Wherever and whenever personal property was taxed (and it often was), books were a portion of that tax base, particularly since those were not commonly owned and expensive to acquire.  I have no authority to cite, however it has been written that Bibles, prayer and psalm books, and such as the "Whole Duty Of Man" were exempted.  

The whole matter of values must be considered in light of the years involved.  For the first 200 years of our settlement here, the inflation rate was said to have averaged about 1%.  I am not an accountant, hence I leave that rate to you as but a suggestion.  Paul   
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sackett, Pamela J. 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 8:22 AM
  Subject: Re: Inventory 1717 -- Value of Books


  While we're on the subject of books...can anyone comment whether or not books were taxed as property?  Seems to me I remember that at some point in time, they were.

  Janet, in my Prince William County research, a slaveholder with 20-30 slaves and an estate worth 1000 pounds or more would have in the top 10% of the wealthiest folks in our county.  We had several in PWC at that time.  I have one valued at almost 2000 pounds in my files.  

  Pamela Myer Sackett
  Chairman, Friends of Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, Inc.
  www.brentsville.org

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Janet Hunter [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 3:37 PM
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: Inventory 1717 -- Value of Books

  Hello Everyone,

  I recently obtained the inventory of an ancestor, Robert HYDE (wife Jane 
  UNDERHILL), who died about 1717 in York Co. VA.   Robert Hyde was a lawyer, 
  and his inventory includes quite a number of horses and cattle, but none of 
  the items one would associate with any sort of agricultural production, so I 
  assume he either lived in Williamsburg or somewhere in the vicinity of 
  Felgate Creek (need to do the deed work).  There are several entries for 
  tableware, tumblers and candlesticks, some pewter but others difficult to 
  read.  He has several beds/furniture/trunks/chests/chairs.

  His inventory includes five slaves valued at £ 10, 28, 28, 20, and 20.

  The other large entry is £ 10 for a parcell books.   The total value of the 
  inventory is £174.14.

  I have two questions.  

  Can anyone tell me how extensive a library in 1717 valued at £10 might be?  
  Would this be a large library?  

  Second, a cousin with whom I've been exchanging inventories for primarily 
  plantation owners,  most 50 or more years later, commented that he was not 
  particularly wealthy, with an inventory of only £174..  I pointed out that 
  (a) he had, because he didn't need more, few slaves the largest single item 
  in most of the sizeable inventories; (b) we don't have information on his 
  real estate; and (c) there was probably an inflation factor involved.   One 
  specific inventory in comparison I was told was "wealthy" was in 1761, 
  Chesterfield Co., a tobacco planter with 21 slaves, whose estate was valued 
  at more than £1,200.

  FYI, I know there are some calculators out there but I couldn't find them.  
  Footnote, I don't see a phaeton or anything, but he did have a canoe!
      
  Best Regards,
  Janet Hunter
   







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