Do I keep my autographed copies?

November 11, 2023 4:36 PM

I have several books signed by the author, personally to me. About three of these books, I wouldn't keep on my shelf if they weren't personalized to me.

The only reason why I keep the books is because of the personalization of the moment I met these writers. Now, I don't care for these writers for various reasons!

I'm nostalgic for the times I met these writers, but it was part of my graduate program events. That's why I didn't think about whether I cared for these writers or not. I just thought it was neat to get these signed!

I know they aren't worth anything especially since it's personalized to me, specifically. I don't care about that.

I'm just wondering how y'all might approach this? Is there a reason to keep these?

I've followed the spark joy method for a lot of things and I have enjoyed decluttering. I continue to downsize books every move I make knowing that if I can find the book at my library or its still available to buy, I'm ok buying or borrowing again when I actually will want to read it.

I don't see myself wanting to read these books again.

posted by AnyUsernameWillDo to Grab Bag (12 answers total)

I work in publishing so meet lots of authors and have lots of signed books. When they stop meaning something to me, I drop them in a little free library or sell them to a used bookstore. I have not regretted parting with any of them. Once they stop speaking joy, let them go!
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 4:46 PM on November 11, 2023 [9 favorites]

I am a lifelong bibliophile and there was a time when accumulating books was important. The last 20 years I've find myself going the exact other way. The only physical (i.e. dead tree) books I keep are those with which I have an emotional connection. I still buy lots of books and read them and then I give them away, as was suggested above to a couple of free libraries around here, and also to our public library for their fundraisers. I had one poetry book autographed by the compiler-- a very famous individual who got caught up in an ugly MeToo, and that book I parted with without regret. I also bought a used book by a mystery author I liked and when it came, it had a "signed by the author" sticker. Sure enough, his autograph was inside. Such is the value of such things I guess. Anyway: none of us owes books that no longer work for us a place on our shelves.
posted by charris5005 at 4:59 PM on November 11, 2023 [3 favorites]

I'm a book editor and also end up with lots of personalized books. I have been on a big push to reduce the number of books I have, so I've put many into free libraries and the like. Very occasionally I've torn out the page with the author's signature if there happens to be a message that very clearly ties it to me. Like, beyond just my first name.
posted by BlahLaLa at 6:05 PM on November 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

I’m an author and have signed quite a few books. I don’t consider it a mark meant to saddle you forevermore with my book. :) Take a photo of the inscription page and release the book into the universe. You’ll still have the memory!
posted by fruitslinger at 6:32 PM on November 11, 2023 [7 favorites]

I've met a lot of authors and had probably ten or so autographed books. I recently got rid of most of them - they weren't books I wanted to read again and the autographs didn't mean anything to me. I cut out most of the autographs before giving them away. The ones I saved were autographed by authors I'd taken classes from. In those cases, I genuinely liked the books and the authors had written personalized notes to me as a student.

The only one that might have been slightly valuable was autographed by William Burroughs. But I never really liked his work, so I gave it to someone who did. He was also pretty unfriendly when he signed it - and just wrote his name. I haven't regretted giving it away for a second.
posted by FencingGal at 7:00 PM on November 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

I used to buy most books used. Finding a book I wanted that was signed, even it was personalized to someone else, felt so special. I have donated many signed books over the years and knowing it might make someone’s day makes it much easier.
posted by lepus at 8:53 PM on November 11, 2023 [5 favorites]

Depends on the author's signing habits. As a recovering book collector, I found that some authors were so promiscuous with their book signing, that the rare copies were the untouched ones.
posted by fairmettle at 9:47 PM on November 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

When I’m in a used bookstore it is like a little bonus treat if I come across a book with a signature. Free yourself of these tomes and give someone this small joy. Also, if it’s addressed to someone, I get to take a moment and ponder who they were, why the book is in the store, and if I buy the book I enjoy feeling that little connection to someone I’ve never met. Kind of like taking out a library book back when they had cards and looking at the previous borrowers, imagining how they felt about it.
posted by Mizu at 6:23 AM on November 12, 2023 [3 favorites]

Seconding what Mizu said above.

I think several responders here are missing that this was a more personal inscription, as opposed to just a general autograph; it wasn't just like Neil Gaiman hastily writing his name inside something, it was Neil Gaiman writing something like, "AnyUserNameWillDo - thank you for your ongoing support while I was researching AMERICAN GODS" or something like that. Which can feel a bit more "important" or something.

OP, I still think that you are perfectly within your rights to get rid of something, even if it was personally inscribed from the author, if it just doesn't have the same impact for you any more. I also have one such personally inscribed book - I don't really read the book, but I value the inscription and what it symbolizes, so I have that kind of emotional connection. If I didn't though, I'd get rid of it. And - yeah, someone coming across that in a used bookstore would still think "wow this is the coolest thing ever" even if they are not you.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:34 AM on November 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

One way or another, we do not own books, we merely care for them until they move on to another person. This is true no matter what is written inside or by whom. With the possible exception of outdated textbooks, it is rare to have a book that is completely unwanted. If your little free library doesn't find that person, your public library is likely to accept donations for the purpose of resale to benefit the library.
posted by janey47 at 8:57 AM on November 12, 2023 [3 favorites]

If they don't mean anything to you and you would be interested in selling them, do not assume that because they are inscribed, it diminishes the market value. It absolutely does not; for many authors, it increases the value of their signed hardback copies.

TLDR; sell 'em.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:56 AM on November 12, 2023

take a photo of the page/inscription and send it on to another person to enjoy.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:35 AM on November 13, 2023 [1 favorite]