Finding information on old books

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Finding information on old books

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1hunnyd
Aug. 23, 2010, 5:14 pm

Found a book today, and for the first time since I've started cataloging I cant find it online (I found it in the LT catalog, but no information on it on the web).

So if its not on abebooks.com and doesn't show in a Google search. How would I go about finding its value/worth/importance/history etc etc :)

Book in question is Good English in Good Form by Dora Ranous, First Edition 1916. Every search turns up only newly published 2009/2010. (touchstones are not working....go figure :P )

2TLCrawford
Aug. 23, 2010, 5:29 pm

Textbooks do not generally have much value, unless maybe you found an original McGuffy Reader, signed by McGuffy. It seems that every out of copywriter book I look for has some print to order publisher saying they have recently published an edition. Good luck finding out something specific about this book but don't plan your retirement on it. ;-)

3hunnyd
Aug. 23, 2010, 5:42 pm

Didnt expect it to be worth a whole lot, just curious about it. I like to learn as much as I can about each book I put on the shelf :)

And to the Textbook category it goes into. Thanks.

4moibibliomaniac
Bearbeitet: Aug. 23, 2010, 6:15 pm

If you'd like to know more about the author, there is a biography of her: Dora Knowlton Ranous...A Simple Record of a Noble Life. If you want a copy, there's one available on abebooks.com

Here's a short bio of her from novelguide.com

5debavp
Aug. 23, 2010, 9:49 pm


I found it for sale on the website, it has a little bit of info . What they're offering is a new book, but there is a small blurb about the old one.

http://www.flipkart.com/good-english-form-dora-knowlton-book-1120287928

6hunnyd
Aug. 23, 2010, 10:05 pm

Thank you to both of you :)
Great information and book link. It is much appreicated.

**
I see they are printing many new books of this! I'm wondering just what colleges/courses are using it. How strange.

7benjclark
Aug. 24, 2010, 10:54 pm

Worldcat lists 20+ libraries with copies:
http://www.worldcat.org/title/good-english-in-good-form/oclc/4207453

It's available here for free: http://books.google.com/books?id=sAFKAAAAIAAJ (likely the source of the POD copies)

8hunnyd
Aug. 25, 2010, 11:33 am

Hey ben! Thank you- I have to be honest here, I have never heard of worldcat ! I will look around there a bit. :)

9benjclark
Aug. 26, 2010, 3:31 pm

It's a helpful resource, but remember, the information it provides is only as good as the cataloger who created the record. I find a grain of salt to be helpful there.