Signed Books

It was with great excitement that we discovered that most books in a very large recently purchased collection had been signed by either the author or the illustrator, and sometimes both. It was my task to sort and catalogue them and for many weeks I watched the different boxes of well kept books being unloaded onto my 'cataloguing' shelves. As soon as each shelf was filled the excitement would get the better of me and I would have to see what had just arrived!

Some of my favourite finds were Phillip Pullman's trilogy His Dark Materials which were in beautiful condition, plus an assorted collection of books by popular author Jacqueline Wilson (Left). Many of these were signed by Jacqueline Wilson herself ( right) and others were also signed by the illustrator, Nick Sharratt . Last but not least, a book written and signed by Ted Hughes came to light. Entitled What is The Truth? this is a book described as a "Farmyard Fable for The Young".

Before cataloguing these books, I thought it would be useful to try and find out a little information on how a signature from an author or illustrator can influence the value of a book. On looking into the realms of the signed book, I realized that it was a bigger subject than I had at first thought. I discovered, it is not just the signature that influences the value, but how the book was signed.

For example, to a collector of a specific author, a signed presentation copy inscribed to them will be a unique item and of special value. In the past, this type of signature or inscription may have been seen to be of greater value and interest as there may have been a story behind the inscription of how the recipient knew the author. However, with the increase of book signing events where authors sign their newly published books, these items are more common today. In addition collectors who are interested in signed books as an investment may prefer to have the book just signed with the author's name or perhaps with the added greeting 'Best Wishes' or 'Yours Truly'.

An exception to the above would appear to be a book inscribed and signed by an author to a famous person or an "association" copy. Not only would it have been signed by the author, but it would also have been in the possession of a famous person.

Some authors are willing to sign bookplates for their publisher who will then attach these items to their latest release. Collectors may not view this as so desirable as it would mean that the author would not have physically held that particular book in his or her hands to sign it.

A further factor that may influence the value of a signed book is the frequency with which an author actually put their signatures inside books and their popularity as a writer. If an author decides to sign only a very few of their books the collector can expect to pay a much higher price than for the work of an author who readily signs a book when asked. Examples are Edmund Hillary , the mountaineer and explorer, children's author and Carnegie medal winner Eleanor Farjeon, the Rev. W. Awdry author of the Railway Series starring Thomas the Tank Engine and the artist John S. Goodall. All of these wrote many books but signed very few and so signed copies are highly desirable in the collector's eyes.

Another factor that can influence the value of an author's signature is whether they are still living. Some authors, such as Evelyn Waugh and Agatha Christie, signed very few items during their lifetime which makes their signed works rare and valuable. Artists such as Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac only signed the Deluxe editions of their works and these were published in such small numbers they are now rare and much sought-after.

When valuing books signed by the author all the above factors, and others such as the edition and condition of the book, will have a bearing on the value. However to collectors these unique items can be deemed as irreplaceable and therefore priceless.

Please take a look at our stock of 'SIGNED' books.

Contributed by Joanne Hill.

(Published 29th Oct 2014)