Illustrated books and plates
Artists have always worked for books. A complete volume, a single plate and a later facsimile belong to very different markets.
Illustrated books combine text and images – from Japanese woodblock-printed books and bound volumes of etchings to magazine and book illustrations of the 20th century. Some contain original prints, others reproductions of drawings.
Complete volumes in original bindings are usually the most valuable form. Many books have been broken up, and their pages are sold individually; single plates are more affordable but worth less in total than an intact copy.
What kinds of illustrated books are there?
Woodblock-printed books
Japanese books printed from carved blocks, such as the Hokusai Manga – often sold as single pages.
Bound volumes of prints
Sets of etchings or engravings bound together, often in original or period bindings.
Artists' books
Books conceived by artists, often with original prints in limited editions.
Book and magazine illustrations
Printed illustrations after drawings – more common, valued by edition and condition.
Single plates
Pages removed from books or portfolios – affordable, but less valuable than complete copies.
Facsimiles
Modern reproductions of historic books – decorative or for study, without original value.
What drives the value
- Completeness: A complete copy with all plates is worth far more than a damaged or incomplete one.
- Edition: First editions and early printings are preferred; later editions and facsimiles are worth less.
- Binding: Original or period bindings add value; rebinding can reduce it.
- Condition: Foxing, water damage, missing pages and loose plates reduce value.
How to check what you have
- Collation: Count the plates and pages against a bibliography to check completeness.
- Title page and imprint: Publisher, place and date help identify the edition.
- Printing method: Original prints show relief or platemarks; reproductions show dot patterns.
- Facsimile note: Modern facsimiles usually say so on the title page or in the colophon.
Illustrated books by the artists in our guides
How this type of work looks in the market of individual artists – with links to their full profiles, auction records and authenticity checks.
Gerda Wegener
Illustrations and prints: Magazine illustrations and illustrated books – printed, therefore more common.
Katsushika Hokusai
Illustrated books: Including the Hokusai Manga: printed books whose single pages are often sold separately.
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Bound volumes: Complete or partial sets of the Vedute or other series in original bindings.
Hugh Ferriss
Book illustrations: The Metropolis of Tomorrow (1929) and Power in Buildings (1953).
Questions
Is a single page from an old book valuable?
It can be, if it is an original print by a known artist. In most cases, a complete book is worth more than its pages sold separately.
How do I recognise a facsimile?
Look for a facsimile note in the colophon, modern paper and a printed dot pattern instead of original printing.
Should I separate the plates to sell them individually?
No. Breaking up a book destroys its value as a complete copy and is irreversible.
Do you own an illustrated book or plate volume?
Photograph the front, the back and any marks, signatures or seals, and get a free estimate. For insurance, a sale or an estate, order an appraisal with a notarized signature.
This guide explains general market rules. It is not an appraisal; the value of a specific work depends on its artist, condition and provenance.