The type of appraisal this article addresses requires a written report with a lot of research backing it up. This type of appraisal usually gets scrutinized by the IRS or an insurance company.
Toolbox
General tools and information for bookselling, clip worthy
BEST OF: How, when and why to write a press release and what to expect if you do
A press release has a standard format and should be as brief and to the point as possible. Think of how long it takes you to decide whether to read an e-mail or not. That's about how long an editor will give your press release before deciding what to do with it.
Books About Bookselling: The Bookseller’s Apprentice
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Anyone who has gone to Boston to look for rare books in this century will have memories of Goodspeed’s Book Shop.
Adventures with a Binder
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I recently journeyed to the Charles Matthews Bindery in Los Angeles to participate in a basic book repair class followed by some tips on restoration. It turned out to be a book autopsy, however, followed by major reconstructive surgery. Incredibly informative, very helpful and a lot of fun.
The Hard Way
Hard drive failure: it's never fun.
Insurance for Bookdealers
I decided a while ago that it was time to reconsider what I was doing with insurance for the company and began collecting information on the various options. One of my first paths was to post a request to the two book listserv groups that I follow the most closely, seeking recommendations (or warnings) from others. I also asked a number of specific dealers who I knew approached such matters with considerable care and forethought. I received a *lot* of responses. (N.B. A fair bit of what follows is sort of Insurance 101, but I received a number of requests…