Valuing or Dating Antique Books?

[Robby]

I've been putting together my family tree for a few years now and I've happened upon a book that I'm sure was owned by my great, great Grandfather ( he had signed the inner cover). It's called 'Dr Wylde Science of Music', it's obviously very worn and with very little in the way of distinguishing marks.

No date of publication just the publisher and location.

My great, great Grandfather was born in 1866 and was a performing clown for some time in his younger years when I presume he owned this book, so I estimate it has to be around 100 - 120 years old.

Has anyone used any specialised services in dating and valuing books this old?

Googling brings up search engines for antique books but so far I've not had any hits.

[douglasb]

https://grovemusic.github.io/Entries/S30636.htm

It's not a given that 'old = valuable'. The market has dropped out of a lot of this stuff. Do you have a local antiquarian book shop you could just pop into?

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[malcy]

I would concur with Douglas about age does not necessarily mean value. My dad had some science books passed down in the family from late 19th Century.

Condition is a key determinant in value so unless extremely rare and sought after a well worn copy may not have much value.

My father ended up selling to one of the antiquarian booksellers around Charing Cross Road London. Some were uninterested and a few offered a similar price. There has been no record selling at auction and even specialist book auctioneers weren't interested.

[Robby]

Thanks guys, fwiw I've got no interest in selling. I was more hoping if it could be valued it could shed some info on how my great, great Grandfather came about it.

I've got some great photos of him as a Clown and this is my only tangible lead as to how or why he chose this proffession. If it even was one for him.