Hi Bruce,
The "live" interviews are a wonderful new feature for AE. You are "on top" of the pulse in the out of print book business whether by catalogue, auction, book fairs, and/or internet. We all appreciate the most up to date information on the current trends in this business.

Flo Silver
Flo Silver Books

Hi Bruce,
The video interviews are terrific! I've already watched every minute. Kudos to all involved, including the booksellers - very entertaining, informative, and fun!

Hope to see you at the fair!

Best,
Ed Hoffman

I have been using your free services and appreciate the AE Monthly articles. I read every one. I also especially appreciate the convenience of the upcoming auctions calendar. I just signed up for XE.com on the basis of your recent article. I had been looking for such a foreign exchange aid. I thought that perhaps it was time for me to subscribe...but I really don't need all the resources the expensive subscriptions offer, since I am only a small private collector.. . So I am sending you my gratitude for the information you are sending me, and please let me know if you ever have a sort of "associate" membership.

Thanks.

Elinor Eisemann

I have just received a book for christmas. The problem is, it is very old and I am afraid of it falling apart. I really do not know were to look up such a treasure. Could you give me some info? Graded Classics Series: Poems and Tales, Poe. Published in 1911. B.F. Johnson Publishing Co. Richmond Virginia. Any information would greatly be received.

Abigale

Editor's Response

If your are looking for value, we suggest going to www.abebooks.com and using their Advanced Search to try to find other copies of your book. Abe has the largest number of copies of old books being offered for sale, so there is a good chance your book may be offered by someone. This does not mean that their price is an accurate reflection of value (frequently the asking price is too high), but it may provide a ballpark estimate. In the case of your book, we could not find a match. However, we would not expect a high value for it. First of all, this is a much later printing of some Poe works, evidently meant for school children. Such books rarely are of significant value. B.F. Johnson was evidently an early 20th century southern publisher, and some of their southern history works are of interest and some value. The school books seem less so. There are a number of other of their "graded classics" offered, and generally they bring from a couple of dollars for those in mediocre shape, to low double digits for those in good shape.

AE article on eBay signatures auction prices

I'm a subscriber who enjoys the newsletter quite a bit, and I usually find it very helpful.

Was surprised and disappointed though at the article by Burnham on eBay signatures. I thought it very poorly done -- leaving only a few sentences of warning about fakes. eBay is clearly flooded with both fake signatures and fake COA's to go with them. There should be a great deal of warning -- this article, I think, rather encouraged the sheep to gladly go to the wolves. Not enough is being said anywhere about the rampant dishonestly on eBay, and I think a professional outfit like AE cannot simply touch on eBay lightly like this without dealing with this issue.

There is a great difference between the remaining outlets with professional standards and the "buyer beware" sites -- and AE should clearly stand with the former.

Andrew Halldorson
Sleepy Hollow Bookshops


Editor's Note

We appreciate the heads up on the fraud issues pointed out in this letter and the one which follows. There are some wonderful opportunities on eBay, but it is very much a "buyer beware" forum, and this issue should have been pointed out, including that of phony signatures, COAs, and just about anything else. There are definite advantages to buying from reputable auction houses and dealers, and this security is what one can lose when tracking down deals on eBay.

re: "Top Values of Signed Books on eBay"

I have a problem with a bookseller advising, "Try to make sure that the signature is authentic, that it has a certificate of authority (COA)..."

We all know they are worth only the paper they are printed on, and I'm surprised that the Americana Exchange published such a statement.

Heidi Congalton