AI Appraisal Estimate

The item is a first edition (Revised, 1916) hardcover book titled "Handbook of Rock Excavation Methods and Cost" by Halbert Powers Gillette. The book appears to have a cream or light tan paper cover, which is slightly darkened with age and visible wear along the edges and spine. The text on the cover is printed in black ink in various fonts, ranging from large block letters for the title to smaller type for the author's credentials and publisher information. The text includes the author's affiliations: "Managing Editor of Engineering and Contracting, Member American Society of Civil Engineers, Member American Society of Engineering Contractors, Member American Institute of Mining Engineers, Member Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education." It is noted as being "ILLLUSTRATED". The book was published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. in New York, and Hill Publishing Co., Ltd. in London. The year of publication is clearly stated as 1916, with a parenthetical note "(Revised, 1916)" indicating it is a revised edition of the original 1916 printing. The visible portion of the book appears to be in good condition for its age, with some apparent discoloration and minor edge wear, but no significant rips or tears visible on the cover. The pages along the right edge show some variation in color, possibly due to tanning or foxing.

I have examined the image provided of the "Handbook of Rock Excavation Methods and Cost" by Halbert Powers Gillette, first edition (or rather, the Revised 1916 printing). Based on the visual evidence and the owner's description of 'good condition', the book appears to be in fair to good condition for its age. The cover shows age-related discoloration, spine and edge wear, and potentially some staining, but appears intact with no major tears visible. The pages show some tanning, which is typical for books of this era. This is a technical engineering handbook, a genre that typically has a limited but dedicated market, primarily academics and those interested in the history of engineering. While the author was prominent in his field, this specific title isn't a major collectible in the same vein as rare literature. Factors impacting value include its niche subject matter and the condition, which is good but not fine. Finding an exact comparable online is difficult; however, similar technical handbooks from this period generally range from $20 to $50 depending on condition and author. The 'Revised, 1916' notation suggests it's not the absolute first printing but a later impression or revision within the first year of publication, which has minimal impact on value unless it contained significant new material. Authenticity is based solely on the visible title page and cover information matching known publication details for this book. A key limitation is the inability to fully assess condition, including internal defects like foxing, previous ownership marks, loose bindings, or missing pages, without a physical examination. Full authentication of the edition would also require a physical review of copyright pages and collation.