Is a book that was bound upside down more valuable?

Question

I recently ordered from a large online bookseller Balthus and Cats by Alain Vircondelet, published by Flammarion. The list price is about US$30. It is a first English language edition (so marked), published simultaneously with the original French first edition. It arrived shrink-wrapped in plastic.

However, it was bound upside down and must be turned upside down and opened from the back to be read. The pages can then be read in the normal fashion (not from back to front).

It is otherwise in perfect condition, except for tiny white spots, one on the inside cover and one on the facing page where glue apparently stuck the multi-layered pages which are green on the outsides and white in their middle layer together.

It is almost of academic scholarly quality and such art books usually appreciate significantly in value within a few years. It is probably not a book that will be remaindered.

If this book appreciates, I will sell it.

Does its being bound upside down increase its value in the way that postage stamps in which one color is printed upside down have greater value for example.

Or would I be better off economically if I return the book as defective and have it replaced by a copy that is properly bound?

If you know of examples, I would appreciate your citing them.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Mistakes have occasionally increased the value of certain books, probably most famously an early printed English language Bible that said "Thou shalt commit adultery" but it's rare. This is just a mistake in a book with no particular likelihood of being collectable.

Answer 2

No.



I am unawre of collectors of misbound books, we always returned them and the question was asked by me (probably before you were born) and the reply was simple 'would you want a book that wasn't perfect in place of one that was' answer certainly not.



Return it and get a perfect copy replacement

Answer 3

yes