Now that would be admirable, but you could also just bequeath them directly to someone you know will want them, and take care of them properly (no, I'm not looking to add to my collection!).

The reason I catalogued my books is because my brothers and sisters all know that my books are worth a lot of money, but they don't know which ones are the really valuable ones. The catalogue states the worth of the book as of the time of the purchase, and the reason why my heirs would want to check for a price increase.

An example: Horse Conformation as to Soundness and Performance: As to Soundness and Performance by Ben K. Green

I have the privately published, and autographed true first edition. It's in immaculate condition. My husband spotted it almost 10 years ago, ran home to ask me if this was the book I'd been looking for. I paid $400 for it then. I've NEVER seen another true first edition for sale that was in the condition this one's in. But, if you looked at it, you would toss it aside as just an old horse book.

You'd have thrown away a couple of thousand dollars worth of book.

East Hill