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I’m not sure if this is a good place to post this, but I have a question regarding sheet music. First, the back story:

One of my co-workers experienced the death of her mother a couple months ago. During the process of putting affairs in order, it turns out that her mother was a music teacher. When my co-worker popped in to the office last week to announce her resignation, she asked, offhandedly, if anyone was interested in some piano sheet music. Without even thinking, I pulled a Horshak and put up my hand and went “Oh, me, me… pick me!”

Today she dropped off a very heavy box of books. When I got it home I did some quick rifling through it and pulled out some rather interesting items;

Childcraft – Music for the Family, Volume 11 (Hardcover) - ©1961

The A B C of Musical Theory – Curwen Edition 8201 (Hardcover)

Note-Reading is Fun – A Song With a Plan – (for Primary Grades) - ©1949

Clair de Lune (de la suite bergamasque) – Claude Debussy – Piano Solo - ©1939

There’s a lot more in that box, most of it quite old. So this leads to my question: Is this kind of thing something that could be considered a ‘collectable’ in the sense that I should be putting it in a plastic case and stashing it away, or is it just… old? It's pretty telling of the age of these items when you see prices of 49cents on hardcover books!

No matter what, I consider the Clair de Lune a real treasure find!

I doubt that any of the items you mention would have any value as "collectibles." The "Suite Bergamasque" was first published in 1905 (although composed in 1890), so I can't see than an edition of 1939 would have any value. You'd be surprised how many of us have editions as old as that of various composers, but they don't have any commercial value and sometimes not much educational value, since they are often over-edited. These days, we gravitate more and more towards Urtext editions. You don't say who the publisher is of the Debussy, by the way; some of these pieces might have some curiosity value, but not much more, I would think.

Regards,

Print music is very collectible. Just go to www.lubranomusic.com and look various composers 1st editions. Beethoven piano sonatas first edition in very good condition can cost more than 5000 dollars. A 1st edition Diabelli variations greater than 15000. One of the great named sonatas-Moonlight, Pathetique, Waldstein or Hammerklavier are extremely rare and very valuable. Can also look up printed music on www.abebooks.com

Clair de Lune might be worth something if it were signed by the composer, but saying that, I think anything is collectable and no doubt many on this forum have boxes of old scores that they would never part with.

The digital age can only result in a more vibrant 2nd hand sheet music market, but the real value are first editions, 18th/19th Century editions and out of print works.

Abebooks as mentioned above is an excellent wallet emptying site.

Thal

Many song sheets with photos of famous singers or really nice, older artwork have some value. Many times these are collected to be framed and displayed for their covers, rather than for the songs within. There have actually been three or four price guides to old sheet music in the past. However, classical music sheets or books are much less likely to be valuable unless first editions, or signed by some famous musician or composer. I have some music sheets from the 1800s that have Currier and Ives art work which have value for that reason. Schiffer Publishing has put out several nice books on the subject, but they may be older now. Not sure.

I also have lots of old scores, and usually end up needed to upgrade them as the pages are so yellow, it is hard on my eyes. But sentimental value - I would never part with my music library which numbers over 1000 books!