Most reputable booksellers will offer you from 24% to 30% of what they believe they might receive from the sale of the same book. This is beacuse their purchase of the book represents a tying up of capital in an item that may very well remain in inventory for a number of years. This often comes as a surprise to book owners like yourself who see a used book in condition comparable to your own at three or four times the price you are offered.
A different situation exists when a bookseller has a customer already identified for a particular book. Then he may offer considerably more since he expects to turn the book over at once.
Here are our suggestions for evaluating your collectible books:
1. What is the date of the book's publication? Look at the copyright page. In many contemporary books you will find a "number line." [ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ] The last number in that line identifies the edition you are holding. This line indicates a first edition. The expression "First Edition" may also appear. Unfortunately there is little consistency from one publisher to another or one decade to another in identifying a first edition. However if you see more than one date listed [ for example 1920, 1925 ] you can be sure you are looking at a later edition.
2. Examine your book closely to determine its condition. Is the binding tight? Has the spine been bleached out? If there is an image on the cover is it damaged? Are the spine ends and the tips of the covers rubbed or frayed? Is the book fragile or tight?
Now the interior: Are there any markings like an owner's signature or a dedication? Are all the pages and illustrations present? Are any of the pages torn or marked with pencil or crayon? Have any of the illustrations been improved by an aspiring artist-owner? Are the pages wrinkled or soiled? Is there "foxing?" (Foxing is quite common in old books and appears as yellow or brown blotches of discoloration)
Booksellers grade books as NEW, FINE, VERY GOOD, GOOD and FAIR. A FAIR book is falling apart, bought usually for its illustrations if it is illustrated and the illustrations are by a famous illustrator. A NEW book is the thing you buy at Barnes and Noble. Your book is probably somewhere in between.
3. If your book was originally issued with a Book Jacket and that jacket is still present, your book may very well double in value. No kidding! It depends on the book, of course and the condition of the wrapper. Has it been price clipped? Is it all there? Are there tears? And so on and so forth.
4.We are not currently acquiring additional inventory. If you have a set of books you would like to sell you might want to try e-bay.
Good Luck and thanks for stopping by!
Selling Books or Art
Sorry, but we cannot estimate the value of books
or art that we have not personally examined.
If you have books you wish to sell you should look for a local used book seller. You might also try to sell them on e-bay. Here are some things you might find useful in estimating the value of your books:
