Can someone help me be an adult *boring edition*

[sugarbear]

I have a series of 11 books that are the first edition, printed in 1898. The author is Robert Browning, a British poet.

I emailed a local rare book store, but they have a $150 appraisal fee. I mean, I would assume they are worth more than that? But then, do I take them somewhere for another opinion? 

[joenali]

Yep. Boring.

[walterismydog]

This was in a Google search. Maybe it'll help.

www.artunderwraps.com/Robert-Browning.html

[hopecounts]

Try google it'll give you an idea of the value range of the particular books you haven't.
There is a range depending on various factors but this should let you know if it's worth the fee.
I would also check other places and see if you can get an opinion for less.

[messykitchen]

This might help you determine if it's worth paying for an appraisal. 

Browning Books

 edit: whoops! Too slow. 

[delawarejen]

See what they're selling for on the internet? I see a set of 12 books for $125. Is this similar to what you have?

www.biblio.com/book/complete-works-robert-browning-camberwell-edition/d/664914603?aid=frg&utm_source=google&utm_medium=product&utm_campaign=feed-details&gclid=CMqsivq92cUCFZYWHwodZjUAgA

It would also depend on the condition of the books.

[nsl]

Are they the same set of books listed here: www.ebay.com/itm/10-Vol-Complete-Works-of-Robert-Browning-1898-Poetry-Drama-Greek-Mythos-Illus-/370958268121?

If so, I probably wouldn't pay the appraisal fee without a lot more digging around the internet.

FWIW, Browning died in 1889 and was a well-regarded poet from mid-career onward. I wouldn't assume that anything published posthumously would automatically be valuable, simply by dint of the fact that it would have likely been published in large quantities, more of which will have survived than earlier, smaller-volume publications.

[sugarbear]

May 23, 2015 22:58:07 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

This was in a Google search. Maybe it'll help.

www.artunderwraps.com/Robert-Browning.html

I had found this site, and got all excited because it told me the set was worth $4,500. But my set has a different publisher, so now I'm feeling a little deflated. Lol.

happywife, I'll sell them if they are worth a few thousand.

[walterismydog]

May 23, 2015 23:01:31 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

May 23, 2015 22:58:07 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

This was in a Google search. Maybe it'll help.

www.artunderwraps.com/Robert-Browning.html

I had found this site, and got all excited because it told me the set was worth $4,500. But my set has a different publisher, so now I'm feeling a little deflated. Lol.

happywife, I'll sell them if they are worth a few thousand.

Yeah, I don't know what set you have but I saw that some were selling for 5k while others were selling for two dollars. So unhelpful, Internet.

[sugarbear]

May 23, 2015 22:58:44 GMT -5 delawarejen said:

See what they're selling for on the internet? I see a set of 12 books for $125. Is this similar to what you have?

www.biblio.com/book/complete-works-robert-browning-camberwell-edition/d/664914603?aid=frg&utm_source=google&utm_medium=product&utm_campaign=feed-details&gclid=CMqsivq92cUCFZYWHwodZjUAgA

It would also depend on the condition of the books.

Excellent sleuthing! Your Google skills are better than mine. This is exactly the set. Mine are also in perfect condition, but these are listed for only $125. Whomp whomp.

[sugarbear]

May 23, 2015 23:55:01 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

Wait a minute. The average hard cover book in 2015 is around $20-25 right? Why would 11 books over a hundred years old be only $125?

Good question!

[hopecounts]

May 23, 2015 23:55:01 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

Wait a minute. The average hard cover book in 2015 is around $20-25 right? Why would 11 books over a hundred years old be only $125?

Popularity, demand, quality, condition, etc.
Old books are only valuable when someone wants them.
You can buy a paperback of Browning's complete works for pretty cheap ($25 on amazon) so unless you find a collector who really wants these particular editons they aren't really worth much in themselves.

ETA: and since he is pre-copywrite you can get his complete works for free in kindle version.

[hopecounts]

May 24, 2015 11:51:57 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

May 24, 2015 11:47:57 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Popularity, demand, quality, condition, etc.
Old books are only valuable when someone wants them.
You can buy a paperback of Browning's complete works for pretty cheap ($25 on amazon) so unless you find a collector who really wants these particular editons they aren't really worth much in themselves.

ETA: and since he is pre-copywrite you can get his complete works for free in kindle version.

Oh it's YOU again. Lol

[sewf]

I work at a used bookstore. We use abebooks.com to look up old books. Make sure you enter as much information as you have when you look them up: copyright year, hardback vs softback, if they are first editions. Condition, demand, edition, etc will change how valuable they will be.

ETA: Make sure you use the advanced search function. That will give you much better results. I'm going out right now, but you can PM me if I can help any more!

[marshmallow]

If it's Browning published in the US, it's probably not a "true" first edition--just the first edition by that publisher, which means less value (sadly). Most American editions of British authors in this era were unauthorized reprints of British first editions.