By MI-LING STONE POOLE –<\/p>\n
DEAR MI-LING: I recently inherited a large number of old books from my grandfather\u2019s estate. Some of the books are leather-bound, paperback and hard cover.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sorting and giving some to family members. It\u2019s a little overwhelming. I\u2019m tempted to throw away or donate most of the books.<\/p>\n
My friend told me to have them looked at before I donate them because they might be worth some money. Is there a quick and easy way to find out if a book is worth anything without paying an appraiser? Are the prices on the Internet accurate?<\/p>\n
I would like to find an interesting way to use some of the books to decorate my home and pay tribute to my late grandfather.<\/p>\n
Booked Up<\/p>\n
DEAR BOOKED UP: Your friend is right \u2014 old books can be valuable. They have a dual purpose in your case. You could sell them to a local designer, antique shop or bookseller or you could use them in your own home to accessorize.<\/p>\n
My first line of attack would be to search the book titles on the Internet and get an idea of what the value of each book is worth. Create a spreadsheet or just list the books on a piece of paper and begin searching. Things to take into consideration are the title, author, condition of the book, date and if it\u2019s signed.<\/p>\n
After your initial search you can decide if you want to sell some of the more valuable pieces. Don\u2019t hesitate to contact a few reputable booksellers for more detailed information or appraisals.<\/p>\n
To decorate your home, place a stack on the mantel of your fireplace or on an unused stool or chair. They look great behind a glass cabinet door with other items from your grandfather.<\/p>\n
If the books are damaged you could remove the pages of books that are not valuable and decoupage a table or tray. Place a stack of old books in your bathroom on a shelf or tear out the pages and glue them to a board, then frame and hang in the bathroom. It makes for good reading.<\/p>\n
If you decide to donate the books, leaf through each page first. I found an old 10-cent movie ticket and a handwritten note in my grandfather\u2019s collection of books, as well as an autographed book from the late vice president, Hubert Humphrey.<\/p>\n
What have you done with your old books?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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