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Revised

May 7, 2024
Antique toy red car

General resources

Books

General books about antiques and collectibles can be found in the 745.1s in both the circulating and reference collections. Books about selling items online, including antiques, are in the 658.87s. If you are trying to find local antique shops, you can look in the Yellow Pages, on directory sites such as 411.com or by going to search engines such as Google and searching for the word "antiques" plus the name of your city or ZIP code (e.g., "antiques Worthington Ohio").

Magazines

Magazines can be found in alphabetical order in the periodicals area.

General price guides

Bear two things in mind as you use these price guides: 1) People selling to dealers can expect to get prices below market value and 2) A multitude of factors affect actual prices. These sources can only give you a general sense of an item's worth.

Specialized identification and price guides

The Library has many price guides to specific antiques and collectibles. Unlike books that cover antiques and collectibles in general, which are in one place (the 745.1s), these specific guides can be found throughout the collection in relevant subject areas. Books about collecting jewelry are with the jewelry books, books about collecting religious memorabilia are with the religion books, etc. Below, you will find a selection of specialized guides. To find more, ask a librarian for help or check the catalog by entering the subject heading, "[Topic] Collectors and Collecting." For example: Furniture Collectors and Collecting. It is possible that you may not find an entire book devoted to your particular collectible. When this is the case, look in the indexes of more general books for pages or chapters devoted to your topic.

Care and restoration

Books that cover care and restoration in general can be found in the 745.1028s. Books that cover the care and restoration of specific objects can be found throughout the collection in relevant subject areas.

Appraisers

Appraisers are another source you can turn to when trying to get a sense of an item's value. Some professional appraisal organizations maintain lists of members on their websites. Take a look at the home pages of the American Society of Appraisers and the International Society of Appraisers to find a local professional.

Appraisers can also be found in the Yellow Pages under "Appraisers," or by using search engines such as Google to search for appraisers plus the name of your city or ZIP code (e.g., "appraisers Worthington Ohio").

Bear in mind that there are many different kinds of appraisers. Before you consult an individual, make sure she or he has experience with antiques and collectibles. And don't forget, professionals usually charge a fee for their services.

Additional online resources

Many online resources offer links to sites providing related information and are frequently updated.
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Price and background information on antiques, collectibles, fine art and historic Americana. Information is drawn from about 50 leading regional auction houses located throughout the United States, as well as other selected specialist auctions.

Antiques Roadshow Online

Archives of the PBS show and the Roadshow tour schedule as well as news and advice from experts.

Ebay

This auction site can also be used as a price guide. Just click on category headings or enter a term in the search box to find items of interest to you and the prices people are willing to pay for them. You do not have to be a member of Ebay to view prices.

Northeast Document Conservation Center

Look at this nonprofit organization's website for detailed information about the materials and techniques used to preserve books and paper documents.

Bookfinder

What are booksellers actually charging for used books? This metasite allows you to search several online second-hand book databases at once.

AskART

This website provides an abundance of information about thousands of American artists. You will find biographical information, magazine and newspaper articles, book references and exhibit information. For a subscription fee, even more information is available, including auction prices.

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Kara R

I am the library's digital library manager. I like to read fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction and retellings, especially extra-long tomes. When it comes to music, give me anything with a groove and some soul. 

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