Rare book valuation
Certified appraisals for individual volumes or entire collections, grounded in auction records, dealer catalogues, and condition grading standards recognised across the antiquarian trade.
How we safeguard your volumes
From first inspection to ongoing coverage review, every step is designed around the unique needs of book owners and literary institutions.
Initial consultation
We begin with a thorough conversation about your collection — its size, provenance, storage conditions, and the specific risks you face. Whether you hold a dozen first editions or manage a university archive, we tailor our approach to your reality rather than applying a generic checklist.
On-site or photographic assessment
Our appraisers examine each significant item, documenting binding condition, print run details, historical significance, and current market comparables. For remote clients, we accept high-resolution photography accompanied by detailed provenance records to produce equally rigorous valuations.
Risk and environment audit
Books face threats from humidity, light exposure, pest activity, and fire. We evaluate your storage environment against archival best practices and flag vulnerabilities that could affect both the condition of your collection and the terms of any insurance policy.
Valuation report and coverage guidance
You receive a certified valuation document accepted by major insurers, along with our recommended coverage structure. We explain deductible options, agreed-value versus indemnity policies, and transit coverage for items that travel to exhibitions or fairs.
Ongoing review cycle
Book values shift with market demand and scholarly interest. We schedule periodic re-assessments — typically every two to three years — so your coverage keeps pace with reality rather than relying on outdated figures.
What we cover
Six core services built around the lifecycle of book ownership, collecting, and publishing.
Insurance placement support
We liaise with specialist insurers who understand literary assets, ensuring your policy language accurately reflects the nature of your holdings and avoids common exclusion traps.
Loss and damage claims
When the worst happens — water ingress, theft, fire — we prepare the evidentiary documentation your insurer requires, including before-and-after condition reports and replacement-cost analysis.
Publisher inventory audits
For publishers holding significant warehouse stock, we assess inventory value, recommend coverage levels, and identify supply-chain vulnerabilities that standard commercial policies often overlook.
Library risk consulting
Academic and public libraries face unique preservation challenges. We advise on environmental controls, disaster-recovery planning, and the insurance structures best suited to institutional collections.
Estate and probate valuations
When a private collection passes between generations, accurate valuation is essential for tax compliance and equitable distribution. Our reports meet Revenue Commissioners requirements and stand up to independent review.
Common questions
Answers to the things collectors, librarians, and publishers ask us most often.
What types of book collections do you work with?
We handle everything from single rare volumes — incunabula, signed first editions, limited press runs — to large-scale institutional holdings and active publisher warehouses. If it has a spine and value, we can assess it.
How is a book valuation different from a price guide estimate?
Price guides offer ballpark figures based on edition and general condition. Our valuations consider the specific copy in hand — foxing, marginalia, provenance chain, binding repairs, dust-jacket state — and benchmark it against verified sale records. The result is a defensible figure that insurers and tax authorities accept.
Do I need separate insurance for books, or does homeowner cover suffice?
Standard home insurance usually caps high-value items at a fraction of their worth and may exclude certain perils like gradual deterioration or accidental damage during handling. A specialist policy — or a scheduled rider on your existing cover — ensures each item is protected to its appraised value with appropriate terms.
Can you assist with books stored outside Ireland?
Yes. While our offices are in Dublin, we regularly work with clients whose collections span multiple locations across Europe and North America. Remote assessment protocols and our network of local examiners make cross-border engagements straightforward.
How often should I have my collection re-valued?
We recommend a full re-assessment every two to three years, or sooner if you acquire significant new items, if market conditions shift markedly, or if a major cultural event — a film adaptation, an author anniversary — drives demand for particular titles.
Reach us
Whether you have a single question or need a full collection audit, we are here to help.
Let us hear from you
511 Christiansen Shoals, D02 X285 Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
