HOW IMPORTANT IS PROVENANCE?
The specific history of a copy from the printing press to your shelves is its provenance. There are a variety of indicators, including bookplates, owner signatures and gift inscriptions. Sometimes the provenance has been recorded within the volume; at other times it is found in separate records. While the provenance can sometimes add to a book’s value (if it belonged to a famous historical figure or came from an esteemed library), in most cases it simply adds to the interest of the book. Unfortunately, the vast majority of books do not have a traceable provenance: they have been passed from owner to owner throughout the years without note. On the other hand, copies that can be directly linked to their authors generally do have (often considerable) enhanced value. Presentation (given by the writer to someone) and association copies (belonging to someone connected with the author) are usually more valuable than regular copies. In the case of presentation copies, the length and content of
