Any *really* *really* old book experts/fans?

A friend-of-a-friend brought me an old book he wants me to sell for him. It's German and is a "Predigten" - which, from what I can tell, is a sermon book. Oh, and it's from 1781.

I've asked around all the antique-type folk I know locally, but no on really has much advice. I've done plenty of googling too, but it's hard to really establish values, or know where to get the most money from this. I'm hesitant to just start contacting random "book experts" who I find online, as I've had too many experiences where they're more than happy to make a lowball offer.

Do any of you have any expertise in books this old, or know someone trustworthy who may be able to give me some advice?

I can't offer any advice on the value of the book but I might be able to help with figuring out what exactly it is - after all I'm German and should be able to decipher a few things like where it was printed etc.

And yes, Predigten = sermons so it sounds like it's a collection of sermons...

PM me if you want to send me a few scans...

Here's a link to the 1st page.

Predigten

I'll try to copy down the text, or at least as much as I can figure out - not knowing the language makes it really hard to figure out some of the individual characters!

Call the nearest good university library (preferably one with a Rare Books department) and ask to speak to a reference librarian. Depending on the institution, you may have to get through a couple of layers of well-intentioned student helpers before you reach a grownup. I can virtually guarantee that, as someone who has an interesting problem involving an old book, you will receive excellent help.

petegossett wrote: Here's a link to the 1st page. Predigten I'll try to copy down the text, or at least as much as I can figure out - not knowing the language makes it really hard to figure out some of the individual characters!

The problem with reading the text is that it's an old German type - I'm not quite fluent in reading it as I used to be but I can still decipher it. Translating it into English is a different kettle of fish, though .

The very rough description is that it's a collection of short sermons for "all holidays of the year" and the author (on the top of the page) is one Father Timotheus of the Holy Ignaz (who he? no idea, might be the name of the monastery or the church), who seems to have been a preacher with the barefoot(?) Carmelites in Schongau in Bavaria.

It was published with the consent of the church or order elders (that's what the "Mit Erlaubnis der Oberen" just above the line over 'Augsburg' means).

The book was published in Augsburg, Bavaria by a printer or publisher called 'Matthäus Riegers fel.(?) Söhnen' (Matthäus Riegers (and?) Sons' in 1781.

The handwritten inscription at the bottom reads something like 'Bibliothek Büchsenmann No 19' which means 'Büchsenmann library no 19'. No idea what that refers to, though.

A quick google suggests that there was a Carmelite monastry and Church in Schongau that was founded in 1719. There also seems to be a town museum there and it looks like I've got an email address for them, too.

I can contact them to see if they're able to shed some light on this book if you want me to - my guess is they don't necessarily speak or write English that well.

Edit: I have no idea if it's worth much or anything at all, but it might be worth at least a little money to a collector of town history out there.

That's an old Karmann Ghia shop manual.

There's a couple 1751 predigtens on eBay:

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&_nkw=predigten&_sacat=See-All-Categories

I love old books, but can't afford another hobby. I have a set of Arabian Nights from 1891 that my grandmother inherited from her mother. I also have another set of stories from the 1850s. No idea of value, but all the old books I have looked at were big $$$$. All the Arabian Nights book sets from the 1800s I have found are in the $1000 and up range.

Good luck with the sale. I would definitely find out all the info you can before you list it. You just might have a gold mine.

Another thing, the binding and cover material make all the difference in the world as far as price. Embossed leather adds a premium. Condition also makes a bid difference.

My parents have a late 18th Century German Bible, I'll have to call them and see if it matches up.

I have a lot of books, oldest being early 1800's court records and documents/ledgers.

Thanks everyone!

And Tim, that would be awesome if you could contact the monastery!!!

I'll try to contact the Pudue library tomorrow. I'd thought about it, but wasn't sure who/what to ask for.

The monastery doesn't exist anymore - well, the buildings do, but it's a nursing home now.

I'll email the town museum tomorrow.

Pete, you may also want to try Buck Creek Books. Or you can walk into Von's and ask for Jim. He may not know himself, but he can tell you who to talk to.