Antiques — Where Have All the Books Gone?

I have a confession to make. I bought a Kindle. I swore I wouldn’t, but when an old friend emailed to tell me that his new book could only be read as an eBook, I broke down. Compounding my guilt, I further confess that I really like my Kindle, a lot. I mean, think of it: I finish a book, buy another one, and, presto, it’s there, all without leaving my chair. Of course, now I’ll probably have to join a gym.
It’s no wonder so many bookstores have closed. Not only can you easily buy any book on line now, you don’t even have to walk to the mailbox to get it. On Aug. 12, the New York Times reported on its front page that some independent book dealers have resorted to collecting donations. It’s called “crowd-funding,” where neighborhood fans help keep their local bookstore afloat. That kind of loyalty is not just about buying books to read, it’s about browsing the bookstore, a centuries-old pastime activity.
We are lucky here on the Cape, especially during season, to still have a few very browse-worthy bookstores. And then there are all those antique shops, always very browsable places. They have become the new old bookstores for folks who still love the physical properties of books – the look, heft, feel and smell of them.
We need real books in our lives. They stimulate our imagination, improve our language, and they are often very beautiful, inside and out, and can even enhance your decor. For the same reasons, old books make wonderful gifts. I’ve included some photos with this column to give you some ideas of what to look for.
Learn more about the books you own at www.abebooks.com and www.alibris.com, and www.amazon.com. But make sure you read everything about the condition and edition of the books that are available.
Some of the high prices on those sites are purposely inflated, some may ridiculously low, and you have to factor in the shipping. So, you have to practice reading those sites before you can use them to evaluate your own collection. I can assure you, however, virtual browsing will never be a substitute for the real thing.
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton.