Book collecting is hardly a new hobby. People have been collecting rare and valuable books and manuscripts, or even just books of particular interest, for hundreds of years. That said, not everyone who has a private book collection feels the need to keep it. If you’re one of those people, selling your books online is an option worth looking into.
How to Sell Old Books
Selling old books can be as simple as finding a buyer and making the cash-for-book exchange. That’s not a great way to go about getting a fair price for your books, though. If you want the best outcome for selling your old books, you’ll need to do some research first. The value of a book is dependent on several factors, including:
- Condition
- The presence of a dust jacket
- Age
- Edition
- Rarity
- Previous Ownership
- Whether or not the author signed it
Ultimately, a book is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. We’ll give you a quote! Take some high-quality pictures of your books and any relevant features and send them to us. If you decide to move forward, you can complete the transaction and take the cash in exchange for the book or book collection.
How Do I Sell Books That Are Rare, Out of Print, or Predate ISBNs?
Of course, your private book collection may contain unique books. Such books may be scarce, out of print, or predate the advent of ISBNs. The absence of an ISBN can make working out the value of a book more difficult. The ISBN system was initiated in 1967, so books published before that may not have an ISBN. It’s important to note information such as the title, author, publisher name, the date it was published, and edition. The edition can be a little tricky to identify, especially since a book labeled as the first edition may not be a first edition copy. You’ll probably have to take a close look to identify that. Once you have the relevant information, examine the book’s condition, just like you would normally. Some online research can give you an idea of your book’s worth once you have that information. It’s a good idea to contact an appraiser if you intend to sell your books online so you can get more reliable information rather than personal speculation.