200 books for sale...but how?

[justanothersailboat]

Some books are still worth something. Most will fetch little. Count far less from a dealer. The only way you can extract value from a book collection efficiently is to start with a very strong and ruthless sense of which ones really still have value and give the rest away. Amazon is occasionally subject to weird, distorted prices and somewhere like used.addall.com is a better bet for checking what is really rare/scarce/costly and what isn't - but only worth doing to confirm once you've already filtered.

Where (approximately) are these books?

 

[Biggles Wader]

I wonder if the OP has a copy of "How to win friends and influence people"
There are some downright rude bastards who could do with reading it.

 

[pandos]

If you do go down the road of selling individually, don't forget that Hermes (or whatever they call themselves now) are very economical for transport and you can get the buyer to send you a code which let's you print off the label in the dropshop.. I have used this system dozens of times to buy from uk sellers and thus far no real hickups..

 

[ashtead]

There is a bookshop in Cowes which sells secondhand marine books as well as new ones by RodH and such like - they might be a source of info or introduction to collectors
Clearly might not be geographically convenient but these type of shops sell on behalf of owner taking a cut I believe.

 

[Poignard]

There is a bookshop in Cowes which sells secondhand marine books as well as new ones by RodH and such like - they might be a source of info or introduction to collectors
Clearly might not be geographically convenient but these type of shops sell on behalf of owner taking a cut I believe.

Also one in Gosport.

 

[Gsailor]

Just checked out SOLD prices of Shrimpy by Shane Acton on ebay:

Cheapest was sold for £14.99
Most expensive was near £50

Non- signed editions used to be more valued - strange.

I have not checked out Dr D Lewis' books.

I bought the Shrimpy book and the sequel for about £5 each.

So, time to set up an ebay account or an amazon or facebook market place or Abe books etc.

I don't need the books. Bought for not a lot. If sold for more than I paid, quids in and space made available.

Just have to make sure I do not fill the space with other acquired items.

 

[doug748]

Shrimpy was in huge demand for a time and a lot of people were recommending it as a good read. I don't think it was reprinted but it did become available online so that may well have damped down prices:

https://www.bluemoment.com/pdf/shrimpy.pdf

Should sell ok though, a lot of people still want the printed word.

.

 

[bitbaltic]

I’ve got all of David Lewis’ books and I didn’t pay 50 quid for any of them, maybe all of them. Which one’s worth fifty quid?

 

[Gsailor]

I’ve got all of David Lewis’ books and I didn’t pay 50 quid for any of them, maybe all of them. Which one’s worth fifty quid?

One of the ones where he sailed with his second wife I believe. But he did that twice I think and I don't have the books or link to hand... it was probably on Abe Books.
Then again, it could have been his book about Polynesian navigation... you can see I have a bit of work to do.
His book about the catamaran with the weird rig was interesting. Ice Bird, whilst not worth much is an amazing book of daring; antarctic with no heating, dismasted and he fixed it himself... he did write that he smelled a bit as the journey went on...

 

[Tradewinds]

I met David Lewis in Tonga or Fiji ( can’t remember which) many years ago - he was an old man then. You would have never have guessed he was the man of legend Ice Bird.
Tried reading his book on Polynesian navigation but gave up.

 

[eebygum]

I was/am in a similar predicament..... Last year I sorted through by books and selected the 100+ I really wanted to keep (including a copy by Dr Lewis) or collections I did'nt want to break up (i.e. all the books written by the original 1968 GGR entrants).

The books that I decided to sell, I made a spreadsheet with each book numbered then and cut and pasted into the YBW For Sale forum. It was a lot of hassle to manage/weigh/package/post which did not make any profit but just cleared part of the bookshelf but I did manage to sell 90% of them. I was just pleased I never got any complaints that my buyers received the wrong book !

A better option I suggest would be a Boat Jumble where you could just put them into crates and save all the hassle of weighing, wrapping, postage etc..... that's where I bought many of mine from in the first place.

Like the OP, I have one or two books valued into 3 figures on book sellers like Abebooks; but then again I can find the same book on ebay at significantly less; it seems a very fickle market.

 

[ithet]

I have a friend who's hobby is collected and selling books, first editions in good condition. As a collector he is extremely choosey as to condition. He has told me in the past that he has used Abe books to list but says many of the listed prices are much too high.

 

[ylop]

Don't waste your time - straight down the charity shop or in a skip. Charity shop will dump most of them anyway. Books are worth nothing now, do a bit of searching on e-bay etc., to check out the market. And remember - the book advertised at £50 isn't selling for £50.

I think this is misleading. There is money is specialist books. I've no idea if that includes the stuff the OP has. my parents flogged a load of stuff when they moved house. They were surprised how much they got for some stuff and otherstuff that the bookshop wouldn't even take for free!

If I was looking to maximise value and had plenty of time to spend then I'd probably carefully photograph each one, take to a specialist or put it on ebay
If I was looking to maximise convenience I'd put them on Amazon as Fullfilment by Amazon (How to Sell Books on Amazon in 2023: Step-by-Step Guide) but you need to be sure your stuff will sell as it will cost you to be an amazon vendor
If I was looking to get cash quick, I'd go to "webuybooks.co.uk" (or similar) and see what they offer. You'll inevitably be disappointed with the price - but its the near zero hassle option - you might also try or Ziffit/MusicMagpie type apps (download the app scan the barcode on the books get a price)

If a book is worth £50 with really good photos and description and ready to ship (or a shop space and staff) someone has to do that work - your choice is if your time is worth it for your share in the process.

 

[Blueboatman]

Some excellent suggestions have been given from those with actual sales experience
I would just add that when I worked for a charity shop, we had a book scanner with a value threshold of £6.50 plus p and p.
( it were the housing one , others available probably )
So if the OP chooses to go that route and gives the charity a heads up , they might achieve sommat

 

[penberth3]

I don't think this would fit the book section or the practical or lounge... so here goes.

I have to have a clear out.

I collect books.

I have the complete collection of Dr Lewis (Icebird etc - one of his books is for sake at £50 plus)

I have the two Shrimpy or Shane Acton books- what a character.

I have two identical books on hydrofoiling (bought second one as an investment becsusr first one was expensive).

The list goes on.

I don't have a lot of time.

Selling the odd book here and there, wrapping carefully, walking to post office... seems uneconomical.

Can anyone think of a way of selling so many books in a more economical manner?

Many were bought as investments and are unread. Many gave me a lot of pleasure and dreams.

But I am winding down and must sell things.

Any progress, @Gsailor?

 

[dgadee]

I downsized my home after clearing an office with many academic books. Maybe over 30 large boxes of books. They almost all went to charity. Collecting books requires a large house and houses are getting smaller. I would do the same again. I am left with mostly sailing books, and would probably hope that they go a similar way on my demise.

 

[KeithMD]

I have to confess this topic is putting me in some emotional turmoil. I have several hundred books, some are about a hundred years old, handed down from my father. Some are specialist books, some are our childen's books, lovingly kept in the hope of grandchildren we can read to, a few are esoteric collectors items that might actually be worth a few £££. Like @dgadee , M'Lady and I are due to downsize. The thought of most of it going to pulp dismays me. How do you part with it all? By being brutal?

 

[penberth3]

I have to confess this topic is putting me in some emotional turmoil. I have several hundred books, some are about a hundred years old, handed down from my father. Some are specialist books, some are our childen's books, lovingly kept in the hope of grandchildren we can read to, a few are esoteric collectors items that might actually be worth a few £££. Like @dgadee , M'Lady and I are due to downsize. The thought of most of it going to pulp dismays me. How do you part with it all? By being brutal?

Have you ever read these 100-year old books? Do you want to read them again? Is anybody else interested in reading them? I'd crack on with the downsizing.

 

[Adios]

Here's a novel way to get rid of nautical books. When I was living aboard I made a bookcase in the aft cabin and then sold them with the boat. Other than that as everyone is saying there is more effort than reward selling other than rare books.

 

[Adios]

Actually I'd think there would be some people interested in buying a job lot of books on one subject. If not to read then to have as a backdrop for zoom calls or their sailing podcast. But sell as a job lot. Scan for any particularly valuable ones to sell individually then maybe £2 a book for the rest as a lot so 100 books for £200, its not a lot of money for most people, to be able to fill up some book shelves and have a ready library to pick from on their favorite subject its a bargain. The more I think of it make it £3 a book. Don't put it on as an auction and hope the right person comes along within a week. Put it as a buy it now allowing best offers and wait to see.