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If you’re not familiar with the antique industry, you might wonder why anyone would be interested in antique books. Often the information contained in them is so outdated, it’s completely inaccurate. Science books are almost comical, they are so inaccurate. Just read an ancient book about the universe or an ancient medical text, and you’ll be flabbergasted at how little our ancestors actually knew. They had no idea how the human body really work, how the universe was formed, or how disease spread. Ancient history books almost seem like fairytales. But for the knowing few, ancient books are treasured. Some of them are invaluable to collectors. Ancient Bibles and other holy books, the writing of very famous people in history, ancient public documents; these are all highly valued and bring great prices at auctions.

One of the reasons these antique books are so valuable to collectors is that they are so inaccurate they open a window to human development. I remember when I was in college, I did a report about the justifications for slavery in the United States written before the Civil War. I was astonished at how intelligent people had rationalized the treatment of slaves. They were actually not considered human. There was a lot of detail that I can’t recall now about 40 years later, but to this day, that report makes an impression on me because of the antique texts I read for my research. The slave owners thought their slaves were so different from themselves, that it was obvious that they didn’t have a clue about either their bodies and brains or those of their slaves. Because of that research, I realized how much all of us have progressed in a hundred years. Antique books open windows and doors to the past. They also help us understand that the journey never ends and the human mind on earth continues to evolve.

But for others, it may be the timelessness of antique books that appeal to them. When you read the writings of ancient poets and philosophers you realize that people really haven’t changed much down through history.

Turning to history, most of it comes from antique books, of course. Most civilizations left us their history in the form of stories and tales that made their way into books over the years. Without them, we wouldn’t have any idea what our history was. Look at the pirate treasure, and the lost scrolls and the mummies and everything else about history that is being found today. It all comes from antique books. Just think of the laws that govern people and how they have evolved. The only reason we know any of this, is because of antique books.

Having a book that some philosopher actually wrote is the best connection you’ll ever have with that person. We can still get close to Plato and Socrates, just by reading their books and writings. Of course, we can only read reproductions of their works today. We won’t be able to get anywhere near their actual writings. They are so viable today that they’re only in museums and perhaps wealthy collectors libraries. How about Martin Luther King and George Washington. Their speeches and books are now priceless collectors items. Thank goodness we have antique books.

So who might be interested in antique books? Usually those with a love of history and reading itself appreciate these items more than anyone. Many auctions have a separate set of bidding just for books, as there is a particular crowd of collectors that will be especially interested. Some law libraries may also want older editions for their shelves even if they are no longer relevant. There are also many private collectors that specialize in bibles and other holy books and that are always on the lookout for something different and new to them. While some who are interested in the business shy away from antique books because they feel it’s not quite as “exciting” as the world of antique furniture or jewelry or as fun as antique toys and collectibles, they have quite a bit of value to those who are interested.

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