most recent 30 from http://mathoverflow.net 2013-05-24T16:25:41Z http://mathoverflow.net/feeds/question/9793 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books David Spivak 2009-12-26T14:54:25Z 2013-04-02T11:51:15Z

<p>My grandfather had a PhD in math. When he died, he left a lot of math textbooks, which I took. These include things like Van der Waerden's 2-volume algebra set from the 1970s, "Studies in Global Geometry and Analysis" by Shiing-Shen Chern, a series called "Mathematics: it's content, methods, and meaning," and many more.</p> <p>I'm keeping about 20 of them, but there are 103 which I don't want to keep, but which I don't know what to do with. I obviously don't want to throw them away, and I don't really know what will happen to them if I donate them to the giant used-books depository in downtown Baltimore (called "the book thing," where people drop off and pick up used books for free). I'd like to donate them to some math collector or math library. But maybe there are just too many used antique math books floating around. </p> <p>RECAP: I have 103 antique used math books which I cannot keep. Do you have a suggestion for what to do with them?</p> <p>Thanks, David</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/9794#9794 Christian Bjartli 2009-12-26T15:00:53Z 2009-12-26T15:00:53Z

<p>If you are fine with selling some of them to private collectors, I'd be interested in seeing a list of what you've got. </p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/9795#9795 Kevin Lin 2009-12-26T15:04:11Z 2009-12-26T15:04:11Z

<p>If the books are mostly research-level math books, then definitely donating the books to a university math library is much better than donating or selling the books to a random bookstore.</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/9797#9797 Dan 2009-12-26T15:33:53Z 2009-12-26T15:33:53Z

<p>David, Older mathematics books can be surprisingly rare.<br /> An option is to sell them on Advanced Book Exchange (abe.com). I would be happy to help you triage your books. I did this once for the daughter of a philosopher who had a large mathematics book collection. It did not take long on the telephone. Dan</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/13202#13202 Ryan Budney 2010-01-27T22:44:54Z 2010-01-27T22:44:54Z

<p>You're still in Eugene, right David? I'd take your books (or the list of books) up to Powell's bookstore in Portland to see what they think. They'd probably be happy to buy many of your books as long as they're not too common. They have a pretty serious technical books collection and as far as I can tell they make a lot of money selling rare math books on-line. </p> <p>Another option would be to have an auction in Eugene, say, in the math department lounge. The Cornell math library used to auction off their old duplicate books that were no longer in frequent circulation. I got some really nice books for cheap at those auctions. </p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/13206#13206 Felipe Voloch 2010-01-27T23:40:51Z 2010-01-27T23:40:51Z

<p>I recently sold some books to these guys: <a href="http://michener-rutledge.com/" rel="nofollow">http://michener-rutledge.com/</a> They came to my office, looked around and were very professional. </p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/13210#13210 Mark Meckes 2010-01-27T23:57:37Z 2010-01-27T23:57:37Z

<p>I think the <a href="http://www.aimath.org" rel="nofollow">American Institute of Mathematics</a> is happy to receive donations for its library.</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/55713#55713 none 2011-02-17T09:58:12Z 2011-02-17T09:58:12Z

<p>If any of them are out of copyright, the internet archive (www.archive.org) might want to scan them to put them online. There are lots of other scanned math books on the site right now. I really love this one even though I can't read any of it: <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/rieflachvolesung00klierich" rel="nofollow">http://www.archive.org/details/rieflachvolesung00klierich</a> </p> <p>The book is handwritten text (in German) of lectures about Riemann surfaces by Felix Klein and it's just wonderful to flip through it on the screen.</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/55761#55761 Jim Humphreys 2011-02-17T18:11:03Z 2011-02-17T18:59:24Z

<p>Though I haven't dealt directly with them, I'm aware of another established company (in Ohio) which buys and sells advanced or rare books in mathematics: <a href="http://www.zubalbooks.com/index.jsp" rel="nofollow">http://www.zubalbooks.com/index.jsp</a></p> <p>Except for purely local transactions, shipping cost is always a major concern in dealing with individual books or small collections (more so outside the US). But the market for advanced mathematics is limited everywhere, so be selective. It's true that most public or college libraries have too little shelf space and staff to deal with questionable freebies. I've often given away surplus books at all levels to colleagues and students, but there is no way to guarantee that these are really used. Some I've given away have on the other hand wound up being sold, as I later learned. </p> <p>People stop by faculty offices here regularly and offer cash for current sellable editions of elementary textbooks; they pay well but are definitely picky. Even that market is changing rapidly due to e-books and the like. </p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/91348#91348 Bethany 2012-03-16T05:00:00Z 2012-03-16T05:00:00Z

<p>If you haven't sold all of these books, i might be interested in purchasing some of them from you. I am a math major in college and planning on getting a PhD in Math. Currently i am building a library of math books. Thanks!</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/103431#103431 Dima Pasechnik 2012-07-29T07:47:10Z 2012-07-29T07:47:10Z

<p>Lately I see maths books sold on ebay. Perhaps that's a relatively hassle-free option, at least you might get reasonable prices for the most interesting ones.</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/103481#103481 tommy 2012-07-29T22:33:10Z 2012-07-29T22:33:10Z

<p>I would suggest scanning them all and donate them to "the" "internet" book library (for example, a thepiratebay.se); many people would be grateful and the legacy of your father shall be preserved. And one hopes that the laws shall eventually change so that it becomes legal (and maybe is already legal in some countries)..</p>

http://mathoverflow.net/questions/9793/what-to-do-with-antique-math-books/126259#126259 Henry Edwards 2013-04-02T11:51:15Z 2013-04-02T11:51:15Z

<p>Are any of the arithmetic books for grades 1 through six? I administer an adult tutorial service and have found the aforementioned formal years are essential to the basic acquisition of mathematic skills. Therefore, I would love a donation of an arithmetic book from each year aforementioned. </p>