Rare Book Monthly
Articles - September - 2009 Issue
What is the Americana Exchange?
The AE Database finds many records about short-lived President William Henry Harrison.
Subscriber Services
We offer two types of subscriptions: (1) Research, which provides access to the 2.1 million-plus record AE Bibliographic Database, and (2) Premium, which offers access to the AE Database plus all other subscriber services. Pricing is designed so that information gathered or sales made from the site just once will often pay for an annual subscription or more. We'd like to make a living, but don't plan on becoming the next Amazon on your back.
AE Bibliographic Database. This is the crown jewel of the site. Consisting of over 2.1 million records and increasing practically everyday, it is your source for sales and bibliographic records about collectible books, pamphlets and related ephemera. All sales records from the 150+ auctions we cover go into this database. That comes to over 200,000 records for each of the past three years, plus hundreds of thousands for prior years. Prices are included, or a notation that they didn't sell if they did not (unsold lots are included, along with their estimated price). Full descriptions are provided, not truncated ones. Auction listings are usually added within a few days of the sale. Additionally, many older and historic auctions are covered, along with important bibliographies and some major, hard-to-find older dealer and collector catalogues. Outside of the bibliographies, almost all records include prices. A pricing tool is provided to update older prices to current values based on the amount of appreciation (or depreciation) of the typical book since the date of sale. A "Get Keywords" function lets you see which words appear most often in a group of records, so you can know which to search for on book listing sites, AE's auction search, eBay, etc. (see "MatchMaker" below). Any seller or buyer who enters the marketplace without access to this database goes unarmed. Here is the link, but please note that only signed in subscribers can reach the service. Others reach a descriptive page.
MatchMaker. This is a great service many people overlook. It provides automated daily searches for keywords and book titles or authors on sites such as eBay, AbeBooks, ZVAB, and AE's database of upcoming auction listings from 150+ houses. Such thorough searching for great deals is impossible to accomplish manually. Simply enter your words and once a day MatchMaker provides a list of matches. Only newly listed items are included so you don't get the same items back day after day. Receive your matches on the site and, if you wish, by daily email. Now, instead of missing the great deals, or the items you especially want, you are the first to know. This is one of those services that can pay for years of subscribing with one great purchase. Here is the link.
