# Best way to sell old books and .... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2000, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617 "2000-12-21T00:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617/1 "2000-12-21T00:43:44Z")
I have two old books I have considered selling. They are old dutch books Titled : W Brakel Retelyke Godedienst Volumes 1 and 2. How would I go about finding the estimated value of these books. Being in Alabama appraisers here are not to up on 1700’s Dutch religious texts. Who or what organization would be able to help determine a price and possibly find a buyer for them? I know I am going to hear “well I did a blah blah blah search in the web…” I would as well but… My AOL is screwed. Help a doper out please. thanks in advance, Osip ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617/2 "2000-12-21T01:13:30Z")
Did you try [http://www.ebay.com](http://www.ebay.com) ? Just go there and plug the name into their search engine and search completed auctions. Whenever I don’t know the value of something I look at eBay to get an idea of how much people are willing to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617/3 "2000-12-21T02:01:14Z")
[http://www.acses.com/i2b.htm](http://www.acses.com/i2b.htm) [http://www.thebookshoppe.com/](http://www.thebookshoppe.com/) Please note that my daughter works for The Book Shoppe, though she won’t get a commission on anything. The condition of the books determines most of the price. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617/4 "2000-12-21T03:16:48Z")
I couldn’t find your titles, but here’s one that looks like it’s by the same author for sale on [Alibris](http://www.alibris.com/search/detail.cfm?chunk=25&qauth=Brakel&S=R&bid=3a3c327d1d3&page=1&matches=17&qsort=). It’s not in perfect condition and it’s priced $426.00 - whether it sells for that price is another question. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617/5 "2000-12-21T04:16:51Z")
When you get access, search on these 3 used book websites: [http://www.bibliofind.com](http://www.bibliofind.com) [http://www.abe.com](http://www.abe.com) [http://www.bookfinder.com](http://www.bookfinder.com) If there are other copies of your books listed, you can see what they are going for. Since there are no dealers in your area, I would search those 3 websites for dealers that deal in similar types of books, and send them an email. Or you could call your local dealers and ask if they know anyone that deals in such things. Or, since you can’t search right now, maybe a local public library has info on antique book values. Does a local university have an antiquarian book department? I know Rutgers does. Assuming they have some value, you have a few options (that I know of) for selling. Ebay is one way. You could sell the books to a dealer. Or, the dealer might take them on consignment. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617/6 "2000-12-21T04:52:24Z")
Dang, forgot about ABE. Thanks, Green Bean. ABE is very good for finding books, too. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-sell-old-books-and/46617/7 "2000-12-21T12:57:46Z")
Thanks, You people Rock! Osip