Whether it is an 1807 dictionary, early 1900s illustrations books, The Great Gatsby or an autobiography signed by Bill Clinton, the Specials Room at the 41st Friends of C.H. Booth Library Book Sale, set for July 9-13, will have a little of something for just about everybody.

From a medal to maps, more than just books will be available, although the featured item this year, notes John Renjilian, is a 1925 edition of Scott F. Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, which came in a donation box with some other books. Mr Renjilian is a rare book expert who volunteers each year for the book sale, sorting through and pricing the specials.

Sometimes people know what they are passing over to the library. Other times, volunteers sorting through paperbacks and hardcover donations unveil a real treasure.

"This just came in a box. You go through Book-of-the-Month club stuff and all of a sudden there's this one," Mr Renjilian said.

"It doesn't have a jacket. The jacket for this book is probably worth $1,000 itself, which is more than the book," said Mr Renjilian, who priced the first edition/first printing of The Great Gatsby at $950. "But that's why the jacket is worth so much, because nobody saved the jacket."

Does $950 seem like too little for this classic? It is, Mr Renjilian says, but not for the book sale.

Books are marked at roughly one third to half their value since the library sale relies so much on dealers who, logically, have to find a deal in order to make the profit they want. Mr Renjilian says about 75 percent of the specials purchases are made by dealers, and the library needs that business to return year after year.

Among other notables being offered during the 2016 event is A Dictionary of the English Language, compiled for the use of common schools, by Noah Webster, from 1807. Designed to go with Mr Webster's by then ubiquitous schoolbooks, Mr Renjilian notes, it also served as the beta for Webster's unabridged effort 21 years later. The dictionary is leather covered and has sustained some insect damage to the spine, but is otherwise in very good condition, It has been priced at $250.

Lind Ward's Song Without Words, from 1936, is a foil-covered illustration book comprising images of Mr Ward's woodcuts, in unusually good shape, Mr Renjilian says.

"They scuff and they rip," he said of the shiny foil cover. "And this one is great."

Mr Renjilian said Mr Ward was among the first to create a novel without using words.

"He certainly is the one to make it popular," Mr Renjilian adds.

Hans Christian Anderson's Contes d'Anderson Calendrier pour 1912, featuring intricate and colorful illustrations, has also been priced at $250.

Evert Duyckinck's National History of the War for the Union (1861) is an unusual three-volume set because it features a bookbinder's ticket in each volume. The book was bound by M. Rapp, something that would otherwise be unknown. Mr Renjilian said this is the way binders would "sign" their work if they deemed it good enough to promote. The set goes for $150.

Some of the books are signed, including a trio of early-1900 books illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Appropriate for the upcoming election, books signed by George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton are among the selections.

In one of the boxes was a 1914 bronze French medal commemorating the Battle of Marne. Mr Renjilian said other medals are available on eBay for $150, so this one is marked at $50.

There is even a book with a stamp that reads "Censored - prisoner of war camp. Camp Breckinridge, Ky.," which Mr Renjilian priced at $25, pretty much exclusively for the stamp.

Collectors have heard about some of this year's unique selections, and offered to purchase them in advance, but Mr Renjilian notes, it does not work that way. Everybody has an equal chance to get the book he or she wants, although there is an opportunity to line up two hours early, at 7 am, for a ticket to be among the first in line when the sale begins at 9 am on Saurday, July 9.

Do not expect the special books to last the weekend, Mr Renjilian says.

Mr Renjilian, a retired school librarian and antique books expert, has sorted through books and offered his time at the sale for 40 years. It all began when he attended the first sale and suggested some of the reads were priced too low, and offered to volunteer.

The Annual Book Sale will take place at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane, Saturday, July 9, through Wednesday, July 13. Admission is $5 on Saturday only, free for the balance of the sale.

Hours on Saturday and Sunday are from 9 am to 5 pm; Monday (half price day) and Tuesday ($5 bag day), 9 am to 7 pm; and Wednesday (free day), from 9 am to noon. 

A coupon for $2 off any purchase made on Saturday or Sunday is available by visiting the front page of The Bee's website (wait for the Booth Library Book Sale ad to appear on the right side of the page, and click through that).

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