Finding the Best of Bin: What to look for in the Thrift Store Book Aisle
Liz Holderman
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As recent
WorthPoint articles attest, many online sellers are discovering the joys of
buying thrift
store inventory for resale. Treasure-seekers love to rummage and love a
bargain.
But they love it
even more when they can pull a prize out of someone else’s discards and turn it
into a profit.
It takes a sharp eye, but certain types of clothing, toys, glassware, jewelry
and vintage
Christmas decorations can be purchased for very little and sold online for a
nice return.
and they are
usually priced at 50 cents to a dollar each. The truth is, the contents of most
common reading
libraries aren’t worth much more than that, and it usually takes expertise
to identify a
valuable first printing (which can be based on points as varied as a
typographical error, an advertisement or a cover design). But there are gems to
be had at your average thrift store of you follow a
few rules of thumb. These can help an amateur select the best candidates
for potential
resale profit.
1.
Children’s
Books: Quality,
illustrated children’s books are widely collected,
but focus on well-known titles from the early to mid-20th century.
Those with vibrantly colored illustrative plates and fine, decorative
covers are good bets. Collectors of Little Golden Books search for specific
titles to round out a series.
2.
Condition
is Everything: If a
book is falling apart, covered with coffee rings
or filled with crayon scribbles, it’s a bad investment. That includes
books with
missing spines, missing pages, heavily frayed corners and water damage.
3.
Avoid
the Clunkers: Subjects
that date poorly do not resell well because
the interest has long passed. Steer clear of almanacs, humor, self-help,
inspirational, movie-star biographies, yesterday’s novels and fad diet
books.
Most coffee table books fall into this category as well, and Reader’s
Digest Condensed Books might as well be dipped in poison. They can’t even be
given away.
It doesn’t matter if they
are old. Exceptions might include old medical books
or those with very old maps
or highly unusual color illustrative plates.
Hardcover Dick and Jane books published
prior to 1965 are usually safe,
but must be in very good condition.
5. Dust
Jackets Really Matter – a Lot: Used books that do sell very well
on the secondary market include mysteries, science fiction and westerns.
But dust jackets are extremely important and make all the difference in
resale value.
These particular genres were common book club fodder,
and book club editions are not considered collectible.
One way to tell the difference is the presence of a dust jacket
with a
price on the inside flap.
The absence of a price usually means it was a book club version.
That audience might not be locally available,
but it can certainly be found in a broad national market,
which makes specialized subjects very good candidates for online resale.
The books were usually printed in small runs, often at university or independent presses.
The small number available can drive up bidding between two hungry buyers.
but it can certainly be found in a broad national market,
which makes specialized subjects very good candidates for online resale.
The books were usually printed in small runs, often at university or independent presses.
The small number available can drive up bidding between two hungry buyers.
OK, You’ve
Bought a Thrift Store Book… Now What?
Once books are
selected, maximize your selling potential by minimizing risk to the buyer.
Who knows; there
might be a rare plum in your speculative purchases,
so make sure the
educated buyer has everything he needs in order to make proper identification…
and increase your auction return.
1.
Photos: Show photos of the front cover, the full
title page and the copyright page.
All of these are important for edition identification. If there are
lists of books
or other information printed on the back cover, show it too.
If there is
a dust jacket, remove and open it to photograph,
so that the buyer can see the
front, back and inside flaps.
2.
Give
Thorough Descriptions: If the book contains illustrative plates, state how many
are present. These are often tipped in after the book is bound and old
ones can fall out
and be lost. If they are exceptional, show one in a photo.
List the book’s dimensions, because that can also help identify editions.
3.
Don’t
Fake It: The
copyright date is not the publication date, so never use it to identify
the date of the book. Don’t say a book is a first edition unless the
book itself states that.
First editions also have different printings, which is a complicated
concept
that can make a huge difference in value. Let your photos tell the
story.
that can be used for shipping heavy books. It must
be requested at the counter
and the time to deliver is
increased by four or five days.
But free shipping can separate you
from the rest of the online sellers.
5.
Use
a Low Starting Price: Your
books will sell for whatever the market will bear,
so don’t worry about knowing what the books are “really worth”
if you can’t find comparisons on WorthPoint’s Worthopedia
or through eBay’s “solds” search before you list.
If you’ve included the right photos, a gem will surface if it is there.
Have fun, but
don’t expect a windfall from thrift store books. Like any thrift store gamble,
there will be
misses. But you can turn your $1 investment into a $25
opportunity
with selective
buying and informative listings.
Happy hunting
and good luck!
Liz Holderman
is a Worthologist who specializes in collectible books,
documents and
autographs, and appraises collectibles.
http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/finding-the-best-of-bin-what-to-look-for-in-the-thrift-store-book-aisle
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