Searching The Old Book Sites:<br>Just Who Is The Best?
- by Michael Stillman
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The final book I looked for was a rare and very valuable title, History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark. This was originally published in 1814 and is the official report of that momentous expedition. Naturally, I would not expect to find too many copies available. Here is what I did find.
Book Site
1814 original
Price Range
Later reprint
Abebooks
5
$25,000-$125,000
9
Alibris
2
$99,999.95-$124,999.95
3
ABAA
2
$100,000-$125,000
5
ILAB
3
$25,000-$125,000
6
Froogle
3
$20,000-$125,000
14
Barnes and Noble
0
9
Amazon
0
1
Of course what instantly jumps out here is that the copy that sells for $125,000 elsewhere can be had for just $124,999.95 on Alibris. Normally, I round off their nickel discount, but if you're looking to save a nickel, literally, Alibris is the place to go. Everything is a nickel less there.
Time has come now for a few conclusions. Here are mine:
Amazon confuses the heck out of me when it comes to old books. Instead of trying to read my mind, I'd rather they concentrate on making it easy for me to find what I think I want. They also need to find a way to sell books without identifying numbers (ISBNs) as this limits their ability to sell older titles.
Barnes and Noble offers a nice search, but no books that aren't available elsewhere.
Froogle is not that bad, though not up to the dedicated old book sites yet. Worth watching.
Everything and more you can find on the ABAA site can be found on ILAB, and more of everything on the ABAA site can be found on Froogle. They need to work on their search formula and should merge their search with ILAB.
I wish Alibris would keep their extra nickel and in return get rid of their annoying pop ups. If I wanted Omaha steaks when searching for a book, I'd call Warren Buffet.
Abebooks started out as the leader and I have not seen anything from the competition which would, in my opinion, dislodge them from that spot. They have the largest database at 50 million plus books, and their searches work well, find lots of books, and present them in a clear and easy to follow manner. Of course this is all subjective, but for this dummy, Abe is still the easiest and most rewarding site to use.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
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Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
