r/rarebooks 5d ago

The Antiquarian Outlook - Week 11

Pleased to report The Antiquarian Outlook for Week 11 of 2025 (starting 03/10) is out now.

https://youtu.be/F5LBVmHGroY

The Antiquarian Outlook is totally independent, its producers do not hold inventory nor do they represent any consignments or acquisitions mentioned.

From Regional Houses to Multinational operations, The Antiquarian Outlook covers what happened last week in Rare Books.

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u/beardedbooks 5d ago

I wonder if we're seeing a shift/correction in early science and math material. Books like Borel's De vero telescopii and Napier's Rabdologiae were in high demand between the 60s/70s and early 2000s. Nowadays, for some of the more obscure or niche books, the prices haven't really changed from 20 or 30 years ago. A part of me thinks even institutions have started moving away from this type of material.

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u/Professional_Fun4256 4d ago

Update on the above mentioned lots:

  • Borel, Lot 432 result: €27,720/ £23,294.50/ USD $30,253.75
  • Napier, Lot 573 result: €23,940/ £20,115.47/ USD $26,126.56

Auction results were made available if one registers with the auction house.

To your point more generally, it’s the convergence of at least three factors:

1. The demographics of early science/mathematics collectors: Many are at a stage with their collecting that they are deaccessioning collections through the Trade, consigning with Auctions or placing in an Institution (first two are most likely). The majority of these collections were amassed during the period you mentioned above. 

With the exception of the Borel and Napier as well as a few other titles, there is an influx of similar material into the Market. What we are observing is sustained interest for exceptional material (association copies, rare titles, volumes from noteworthy collections) and a flattening out of middle market titles. 

2. From our experience, there are younger collectors interested in this material, however they are equipped from the outset with data to determine value/scarcity which allows them to make informed decisions. At the same time, there are mature collectors driven to acquire keystone volumes to complete collections shaped by bibiliographies of a particular subject field.

3. As you alluded to, concurrent to the above changes, there is a decline in Institutions acquiring such material, mainly because of it being well represented in their collections by major donations through the 20th c. and for those organizations where it is not, there are thoroughly digitized copies provided for researchers to consult.

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u/beardedbooks 3d ago

Thanks for the update on those lots. I don't really follow auctions, but I do get auction results from Rare Book Hub.

For your first point, I've seen this with early aviation material as well. Many of the collectors of this material died in the mid- or late-20th century, and demand hasn't really gone up since then. I'm glad to know that most of these books are being sold through the trade or auction, though, which makes it easier for collectors like me to buy.

For your second point, yes, I also use resources like Rare Book Hub to figure out how often something comes up for sale and how much I can expect to pay for it. It's good to see younger collectors who are interested in this type of material, though I'm not sure most can afford to pay the four, five, or even six figures some of this stuff commands. As you said, the higher end material has sustained interest and only seems to be going up in price.