Bibliophilic Mystery Tour

What started out as a simple trial run to sell books on that "killer ap" known as Amazon.com has become somewhat of an obsession for me. I am in danger of listing every book in the library, because it is so much fun selling. There is a little mini-rush every time I send a book out to someone new.
Amazon is very good for fairly modern books with ISBN numbers that are easily identified. It isn't so good for older and potentially valuable books where identification is half the battle. I found a great primer on dealing with the later day incunabula that often gets donated to the library. Sometimes there are gems hidden among all the flotsam and jetsam of old musty crap. The book is titled Book Finds: How to Find, Buy and Sell Use and Rare Booksby Ian C. Ellis. Wherever you find books, somewhere there will be a guy named Ian.
This book has started me on a fascinating odyssey to deduce the true provenance and value of old obscure books that have been donated to the library. One such book is an 1856 First American Edition (twenty fifth thirty) of Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha. Discovering what twenty-fifth thirty actually means and if in fact this is valuable or not is a very fun and engaging activity.
The world of old and valued books is one that is set somewhat apart from the mainstream world of "Mcdonalds like" library books. It is a world with a different language and value system that is endlessly interesting
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