Livres rares

La rareté d’un livre rare ne se lit pas dans sa date d’impression : elle résulte d’une équation entre le tirage d’origine, le nombre d’exemplaires survivants, la demande et l’état.

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Un volume du XVIIIe siècle peut être courant à quarante euros ; un tirage de vingt exemplaires de 1960 peut être introuvable. À la librairie KOEGUI, nous évaluons cette équation pièce par pièce. Pour les mécanismes en détail, voir notre article qu’est-ce qui rend un livre rare.

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A book's rarity depends on four variables, which we examine in this order. First, the original print run: the number of copies printed and their distribution between regular editions and luxury editions. Huysmans' À Rebours

(original 1884) had only twelve luxury editions, two on Japan paper and ten on Holland paper; our Minnie Brandon by Léon Hennique (1899) has a print justification of twenty copies for the "Les XX" society.

Next comes destruction: pulping of unsold copies, fires, wars, libraries dispersed in lots. A large print run can leave only a few survivors, and it is often in mass distribution that rarities are born.Then provenance, the history of the volume since its printing, which multiplies or divides its value. A unique copy illustrates this better than a definition: our Germinalby Zola (original 1885) is enriched with twelve original watercolors and an autograph card from the author; our Pierre et Jean

by Maupassant (one of the hundred copies on Holland paper) contains twenty-six original compositions. No other copy resembles them.

Finally, demand, the only variable that changes: a forgotten author sometimes comes back into the spotlight, a popular name fades. Condition affects all four: a pristine copy from a print run of twenty is worth more than a worn copy from the same run. Conversely, an old book is not rare just because of its date: we offer 17th-century titles for under 200 euros due to lack of demand, while Xavier Forneret's Ombres de poésie (original 1860, self-published) remains unobtainable.The print justification is the first document we examine. As members of SLAM, we report each appraisal according to the union's standards. Our items enriched with drawings or watercolors are added to our unique copies. Back to the collection: rare and precious old books. Sister collections: first edition

and signed book.
Frequently Asked Questions

Is an old book necessarily rare?

No. Many 17th and 18th-century volumes were printed in thousands of copies and have survived in large numbers. The printing date is one indicator among others, never the determining criterion. We always start with the print run, not the year.

What makes a book rare?

A low original print run, massive destruction (pulping, fire, dispersed succession) and sustained demand. Condition also plays a role: a pristine copy from a print run of twenty is worth more than a worn copy from the same run.

Does a rare book in poor condition still have value?

Yes, under certain conditions. For very small print runs (twenty to fifty known copies), degraded condition reduces the value without eliminating it. For larger print runs, poor condition can make the copy commercially uninteresting. We grade the discount based on the print run.

How do I get a rare book appraised?