Valuable Book Group specializes in rare, antiquarian and collectable golf books.      Visit Our Store

Collecting antiquarian, rare and collectable golf books is a rewarding experience. Knowing what to collect, how to collect and what to look out for has becoming increasingly difficult as the amount of books devoted to golf has exploded. For the beginner looking for guidance we recommend two books to start:

1. Daniel Wexler, The Golfer's Library, published in 2004. It gives a good overview of golf book collecting and gives a brief synopsis on important golf books and collectable categories.

2. Donovan & Murdoch, The Game of Golf  and the Printed Word 1566-1985, lists every golf book published during this time period. It is a useful reference guide and should be the starting point to make sure you understand the various editions of each golf book. The book is organized as a bibliography so it doesn't give recommendations on specific books.

We have been collecting golf books for many years and have really noticed a change since the advent of the internet and specifically eBay and Abebooks. Previously, there was not a lot of widely distributed information regarding the pricing and availability of golf books. As a result, it was difficult to tell whether a book really was collectable or valuable. Now, you can check on-line at several web sites and market places to ascertain whether a book really is valuable or collectable. This has led to a bifurcation in the market. Those books that are ubiquitous have crashed in price based on the law of supply and demand. Likewise, those books that are truly valuable or unique have seen their values increase rapidly. The market has become very efficient.

There are many ways to build a golf book collection. Some people focus on club histories. Collectable histories generally include the courses that have hosted major championships or are highly ranked such as Pine Valley.  Others like to collect instructional books. Historical books are also of interest as are those that recount major golf tournaments. There are a wide selection of golf mysteries including the most famous by Agatha Christie. Bobby Jones books are highly collectable and have risen in value nicely over the years. Also, those books issued in a limited edition tend to be more collectable than those that were not. Famous authors of golf books include Bernard Darwin, Horace Hutchinson, Harry Vardon, Herbert Warren Wind, Henry Longhurst, Ian Fleming (Goldfinger) and  P.G. Wodehouse. Books on golf course architecture have always held their value well. Famous authors in this category include Robert Hunter, Charles Blair MacDonald and George Thomas.

If you would like additional information regarding rare and valuable golf books, please don't hesitate to contact us.