2 ms·
That's selection bias because you are only looking at books that you actually wanted. An average book is worth much less than a book that someone actually wants
by TheCoelacanth 4y ago
That's selection bias because you are only looking at books that you actually wanted. An average book is worth much less than a book that someone actually wants.
- jacobolus 4y agoAn average (~worthless) book is something like a pulp romance novel, political book by a sitting politician, self-help guide, .... These are printed in the millions and used copies can typically be found for $1–$5 + shipping costs. That’s not the same kind of books primarily shown/described here. Any scholarly person who loves old hardback books and spends a few decades collecting ones they personally want or need is going to end up with some worthless books, a large number that sell for $10–50 each, and a few that are worth hundreds each. It’s just inevitable, unless they go out of their way to only collect junk. If I had to guess I’d put the price of the old man’s collection in the $10k–$30k range. But it’s plausible it could be more, if he collected anything rare.