Reference Books and Sources Value guides and books about books. An often overlooked resource is the local library. Libraries do their purchasing almost exclusively from publishers' new release lists, with the advantage to us of these almost always being first editions. Many libraries also have expensive references.
Reference books are a good start, but nothing beats visiting bookshops.
Allen Ahearn, Book Collecting - A Comprehensive Guide Includes estimated values for first books by over 3500 collected authors. Overall, the most informative edition of the classic reference, containing information now deleted from Sutherland's 9th edition. Includes information on authors, illustrators, and texts, organized by sub genres, with extensive discussion on understanding children and their literary needs. Whitman Rose Benet, The Reader's Encyclopedia, An Encyclopedia of World Literature and the Arts. Copyright 1948, in four volumes.