How much value does an Author's Signature add to a book?

And while we are on the subject - Dust Wrappers too?

I understand that is depends on who the author is to a certain degree but wondered if there was a rough guide ?

I've recently seen a book I'm undecided on buying. It has the author's signature who was a battalion CO and the Brigade Commanders signature who wrote the foreword for the author. The book is obviously about a particular battle and his escape from France in 1940. The book with the signatures is easily more than double that of copies without signatures.

On the subject of dust wrappers/covers are books with them worth paying extra for? I always try and get books with a very good condition cover but now I'm moving more and more into the rarer books on my area of interest I'm finding it increasingly harder to get books with covers.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

 

I go with Owen, if I find one without signature or ocver , which is much cheaper I go for that, at the end only a few will go for an expensive book with signature

 

As to your question, Andy.
How long's a piece of string?

I thought that might be the answer - I'm still tempted by this book though

 

Owen, you have sort of beat me to it!

Andy, I think you've answered your own question really. It depends on who the author is, but in my experience I have paid generally double for a signed book.

Jason will have a good viewpoint on this as he is always pushing up the prices of books on EBay for me.

The one book where the authors signature took it away out of all proportion recently was Calvert's 'Prisoners of Hope' oldish edition, it went for £80 odd. Bit silly that one.

If you really want it, you've got to go for it.

I prefer old books, especially WW2 memoirs. The old editions often have rarer photos, maps etc. Later editions are sometimes 'spruced up' by publishers and these images lost.

Cheers

 

I have a copy of ' Flying Colours' by Laddie Lucas, not signed by the author but signed by Douglas Bader. I met the man and shook his hand and still only paid £8.95 for the book.

Would it be worth more today?

 

I have a copy of ' Flying Colours' by Laddie Lucas, not signed by the author but signed by Douglas Bader. I met the man and shook his hand and still only paid £8.95 for the book.

Would it be worth more today?


Oh Yes!!

 

Andy has OCD & likes a pretty bookshelf.

Agreed. But don't tell him I said so.

 

General Mike, Who then went on to become C in C British armed forces, sent me a book on the Third British Infantry Div when he was the CO of the Div,,,,Treasured.

 

Am I the only one who hates dust jackets? (same odd idea as carpet protectors and sofa covers)

I wouldn't go out of my way for a signature, but if i see one copy for sale as signed and there's only a couple of quid in it, I'll plonk for that ... thing is how do you know it's a genuine signature unless you witnessed it? Value depends on the demand though, doesn't it?

My Brother in law is a serious collector of 1st eds and signed copies, he's generally not interested in the text though. I joke it's his pension fund.

Dust jackets are a pain Diane. If one survives with an older book, I always feel scared to use the book properly and then of course it tears and it's like you've desecrated a work of art!!

The most treasured autographed books I possess are those signed by my Chindit vets, right there in front of my eyes. Priceless to me!!

 

I second Steves view.

The signature of the vets means more to me than anything. The book is touched by those who were there and can tell the story through their eyes.

Eddie Chandler

 

Owen, you have sort of beat me to it!

Andy, I think you've answered your own question really. It depends on who the author is, but in my experience I have paid generally double for a signed book.

Jason will have a good viewpoint on this as he is always pushing up the prices of books on EBay for me.

The one book where the authors signature took it away out of all proportion recently was Calvert's 'Prisoners of Hope' oldish edition, it went for £80 odd. Bit silly that one.

If you really want it, you've got to go for it.

I prefer old books, especially WW2 memoirs. The old editions often have rarer photos, maps etc. Later editions are sometimes 'spruced up' by publishers and these images lost.

Cheers
I have had this discussion with a secondhand dealer I know, and he says its the book more often than than author that detrmines the value but people assume that if its signed its worth more not always the case, although what is worthless to one is gold to another. Steve ,as for this Jason fella dont know him......... and I can only imagine he must be buying very good Burma related books if your intrested, Prisoners of hope did you say mate £80? signed by Calvert, I reckon I would pay about £8.50 for a copy :p, old books dustcovers I love them.....bit like records and thier covers how many of us bought old vinyl because of the cover.At the end of the day if you want a signed book with a cover buy it just dont tell er indoors how much it cost....eh Andy! and I cant wait for my fellow Arnhem enthusiasts to chime in on this thread....

 

wtid45, please see attached.:p:p

 

wtid45, please see attached.:p:p
Touche!

 

I have a signed copy of "Welsh Bridges to the Elbe", by John D. Roberts, anyone wants to offer on this one?

 

and I cant wait for my fellow Arnhem enthusiasts to chime in on this thread....

And here they duly came!!