What to do with a collection of Penguins (books)?

[tertius]

I have got a pretty large collection of early Penguin First Editions, which I'd like to get rid of. However, I'd obviously prefer not to give them away and they seem a pretty specialised collection for your average second hand bookseller.

They took absolutely ages to gather over a period of several years - found by ones and twos in secondhand bookshops.

I lost interest a few years ago and they've been sitting in boxes ever since. I've just sorted through one box (of many) and it has 209 First Editions dating from the late thirties up to about the mid fifties (when title number 1000 was published). They are mainly Penguins but also include Pelicans, Penguin Illustrated Classics, Penguin Specials, etc.. I would estimate I have over 1,000 titles in all.

I guess the best return would be individual auctions on eBay but I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with all the photographing, describing, packing and posting.

Any recommendations for good, intelligent, on the ball booksellers that might be interested would be welcome.

[Nickyboy]

If you have the time then put the ISBN's into Amazon and see what each is worth, i did this with a load of paperbacks that my previous flatmate left me. Made over £100 in 3 months selling em.

[sunnygym]

How about passing them down to your kids or your kids kids ?

[tertius]

Nickyboy said:

If you have the time then put the ISBN's into Amazon and see what each is worth, i did this with a load of paperbacks that my previous flatmate left me. Made over £100 in 3 months selling em.

Cheers, do you know when ISBNs were introduced? Can't see one on the handful I've been through today.

[Huntsman]

We bought a job lot of Agatha Christie for my wife on ebay, about 100 odd books I think. It was great value for us, but not so for the seller.

I guess job lots is one way, failing that as you say a book seller, but again, you wont get best price.

We might buy them, my wife is a real book worm.

[Ayahuasca]

Donate them to a school library?

[Eggman]

This might help: booksellers by speciality - or try searching for your books on AbeBooks.co.uk and see if any dealers keep coming up.

Alternatively, get hold of a copy of 'Book Lovers' London' by Lesley Reader and look through the section about second hand bookshops and dealers. Depending on your location and the quality of your collection it lists several that may be worth a call.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

tertius said:

Nickyboy said:

If you have the time then put the ISBN's into Amazon and see what each is worth, i did this with a load of paperbacks that my previous flatmate left me. Made over £100 in 3 months selling em.

Cheers, do you know when ISBNs were introduced? Can't see one on the handful I've been through today.

The books may not have ISBNs. My first post of call would be www.AbeBooks.co.uk - specializes in secondhand books. If you struggle to find the book by the normal search, go in to advanced search and enter the date the book was published.





Then get your local daily newspaper and see what Car boot sales are on this coming weekend

Only joking about the last bit. Good luck, hope you find a few valuable books

[tertius]

Oh, I don't expect them to be worth very much £1-2 each on average I guess.

I like the idea of giving them to a school library though they may be a bit fragile for that life.