Art Books

Art books are reference books that contain printed images of art. Typically produced from a collection of a single artist's works, art books can also include illustrated religious texts, vintage art magazines, and books on particular art movements.

Many buyers of art books want to have a reference on hand about an artist, the artist’s techniques, and pictorial examples of the art. Other collectors favor art books that explain why works are considered important, where collections of an artist’s work exist, and how much art sells for at auction. An art book can be a wish list for art enthusiasts. It can also be a work of art on its own, especially a signed copy. Often, university libraries and fine art museums possess many rare and important art books.

Vintage art magazines featuring prints of pieces that later became famous are big in the collector’s world, as are illustrated religious texts and books on contemporary art. Artist’s books are another popular collector’s item, often functioning as a portable miniature art gallery. Also, with a growing audience of comic book aficionados in the world, rare editions of comic books and graphic novels have brought millions at auction.

Quick Facts

• "Portraits of the Winning Horses of the Great St. Leger Stakes, at Doncaster from the Year 1815 to the Year 1824, Inclusive" by J.F. Herring on hand-colored plates sold for $35,000 at a Doyle of New York auction in 2000
• One of the first Superman comic books from 1938 sold for more than $3,000,000 in a record-setting eBay auction in 2014
• "The Birds of America" by John James Audubon sold for $11,542,683 at Sotheby’s London in 2010