How to Post a 100-Year-Old Book for Sale
You can't get a lot of money for a 100 year old book -- or even sell it in the first place -- if no one sees it listed online. Selling the book online can net quite a bit of money because the post will reach a large number of people -- if you post the book correctly. The book's condition plays a part in how much you could get for the book, but in many cases, the information that goes along with the post can make people want it more than just the book itself.
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Instructions
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Post on auction sites and antique book sites. Listing the book for sale on some websites will get you less money and can even reduce your chances of even selling the book at all compared to posting on others. Opt for the most popular sites people go to when looking for antique books -- popular auction sites and antique book sites are your best options.
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Research before posting the book. Some sites allow you to see what a specific item has previously sold for, so post the 100-year-old book on the site where versions of your book have previously sold for a good amount of money. Factor in the site's commission price as well -- the item may have sold for a lot, but the site's commission could have taken out a substantial portion of the money, especially in the case of high-priced items. When you research what the book sold for, you can also get an indication of how much you should sell your book for.
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Take pictures of every angle of the book. People are typically extra cautious when it comes to purchasing antique books, especially those that are 100 years old, because of the wear that could have happened to the item over time. Photograph the book outside during nice weather -- place the book on a white background -- a bed sheet, a piece of paper or even a piece of poster board are some inexpensive options. The natural light and white background will make the book really stand out. Take pictures of the entire book, the binding, corners, title page and any random page in the book. In addition, photograph the best and worst aspects of the book including damage, pen marks, engraving, gilding or a handwritten note on the inside.
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Give reasons why someone should buy the book. Pictures aren't enough to entice someone to buy a 100 year old book -- it's more effective to state the best features. When buying an antique book, three of the most important aspects potential buyers want to know about is whether the binding is intact, whether the pages are browned and water damaged and whether the book smells musty. If any of these areas are in excellent shape, play it up in the description.
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Make the negative parts of the book sound positive. The chances increase that the book will sell and sell for more money if you make the negative aspects sound appealing. For example, if the book has notes written in the margins of some of the pages, instead of saying "The book has pen writing on several pages of the book," say something along the lines of "Although I haven't read the book, someone must have loved it enough to take the time to write notes about it in the margins."
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References
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