• I don't know.
• It MUST be removed from the frame (see the section on How and Why should I take it out of the frame?).
• It is NOT an original if any of the following are true:
  1. Any printing on it (a title, a copyright line, etc.)
  2. Any printing on the back
  3. There is a regular half-tone dot pattern (use a magnifying glass)
• It is probably NOT an original:
  1. If it's on really thin paper
  2. If it is a painting, originals have some texture. They are not smooth like paper.
  3. Lack of a half-tone pattern does not postitively mean it is an original.
  4. Large size does not positively mean that it is an original.

• I don't know.
• No one can tell you without:
  1. knowing that it IS an original (see Is it an original?).
  2. seeing the condition of the art. (see the section on How and Why should I take it out of the frame?)
  3. seeing a scan or photo of the art.
  4. knowing the size of the unframed and unmatted art.
  5. without knowing the medium and the material (i.e. oil on canvas, pencil on paper).
• If it is in a frame, simply put, no one can tell you (see the section on How and Why should I take it out of the frame?).

• Take it out of the frame. (see the section on How and Why should I take it out of the frame?).

• Why?
  1. The frame is not the art—don't confuse the two.
  2. The art might be in perfect condition or it might be glued to the backing board. Such things matter.
  3. If the frame is precious, you'll be able to sell it to a frame collector. The odds of this being so are fairly remote.
  4. If you're nervous about removing it from the frame, seek help from someone with experience:
     —perhaps the owner of a local framing shop
     —or a local artist who frames her own work.
     —Someone near to you works with art and frames.
     —Seek them out. Usually they are happy to help.
• How?
  If you must try it on your own:
  1. usually you'll need an X-acto knife or a razor blade to cut the paper (which was only there to keep dust and dirt out of your artwork—it's done its job and can be replaced if you keep the art framed).
  2. cut carefully around three edges where the paper meets the frame, making certain that you don't impact the art underneath
  3. fold the paper back to expose what is usually some backing material that will be pressing the art to the glass. This is usually held in place by nails, brads, staples or small pronged clips pressed into the frame.
  4. a pair of needle nose pliers can be used to pull out any nails or brads holding the backing to the frame
  5. or you might need perhaps a flat blade screwdriver if staples were used
• Be careful and you'll soon be able to discover exactly what you have.

• artprice.com
• askart.com
  
  
  
• or there's always eBay.

• Fred Taraba of Taraba Illustration Art might be either a buyer or an agent to help you sell.
• Bud Plant and Anne Hutchison occasionally buy and sell art. You might drop them a line.
• Illustration House in New York City is another potential source for appraisals and/or purchases.
• Do it yourself on eBay. You'll have to sign up, if you don't already have an account, and you will have to pay them a commission when you sell it and PayPal a commission when you get paid.

• I do not buy or sell original art
• I wasn't very successful when I was buying and selling—hence my retirement.
• I have been away from the "market" for more than six years
• I really don't have anything to offer you in this arena. Sorry,

• From the title page, not from the cover
  1. the exact title of the book
  2. the author of the book
  3. the publisher of the book
  4. the printing date, if given
• if there are illustrations in the book, how many?
• color? b&w? printed on different quality of paper? tipped-in?

• AbeBooks
• alibris books
• eBay books
• AddALL which tries to look everywhere for you

• If you can't find your book, do NOT assume that it is really rare.
• rather ELIMINATE some of the detail you entered
  e.g. Kipling is actually better than Rudyard Kipling
  e.g. Watson is actually better than Watson-Guptill
• the odds of you having a book that no one else has are pretty remote
• try to find books for sale that match your copy (date/number of illustrations/condition)
• remember that a wide range of prices on a lot of copies usually indicates a common book with little demand - i.e. not much value

Return

1. you can list it for sale on eBay books or amazon and see what happens
2. you can sign up with AbeBooks or alibris and compete with all the other sellers
3. savvy book buyers know about all these sites, so you have to price your book lower than most if not all of the other copies
4. all of these sites will take a commission on your sale
5. PayPal will take a commission on a buyer's payment to you
6. you'll have to pack and ship your book to a buyer
7. you have to be prepared to deal with recalcitrant buyers/payers/shippers, etc.

• be prepared to be disappointed
• it's only happened to me three times in my on-line experience
• be prepared to accept 25% to 50% of what you found it was "worth"
• assuming that it is an illustrated book
  (why else would you be looking on this website?),
  I will recommend you to my former partner,
  Bud Plant and Hutchison Books
• if you wish to get a reply to your email, here are the rules:
  
  1. write them an email (do not call)
  2. list all of the information (title/author/publisher/date/illustrations) that you have gathered
  3. do not send scans or photos UNLESS THEY ASK for them!
  4. be patient
  5. be prepared to be disappointed
• Okay? You got all that? Write to Anne Hutchison.

• for most artist I have hundreds of other examples
• the odds are good that I may even have the piece you want to send
• even if I don't have it, I probably know about it
• but I WOULD like to find out
• so before you send me some scans, me and tell me what you have
• thanks