Selling a lot of old books

30+ years ago my uncle died leaving me a large (huge) collection of cricket books that he’d built up over the course of 15 odd years. That collection has since sat in my parents’ house and been looked after pretty well (much better than I could have managed) but now time is moving on and, putting it bluntly, they won’t be around forever. It is probably time to cash in on this stuff. It was a bit raw at the time as my uncle meant a lot to me and I was only 14 when he died and the books were left to me.

So, what to do?

I was wondering if anyone on here has similar experiences and would be willing to share what they did. So far, my thoughts are two possibilities – both with a view to having a valuation done. I do not have the time or inclination to catalogue them myself. Other than logging ISBNs, I wouldn’t have a clue what to do.

1. Call an antique bookshop I have bought books from in the past and ask if they know anyone who could advise or do a cataloguing/valuing exercise.

2. Call the last auction house I believe to have sold something similar and request a cataloguing/valuing exercise.

I have no expertise in this space and don’t really have anything other than those two options.

Is anyone able to offer some advice, please?

Sadly, they’re unlikely to be worth very much.

There are online book valuation services which can give you an idea, I’d also do a bit of googling.

If you’re planning on recording all the ISBNs yourself, buy a hand-held USB barcode reader.

Just spoke to a bookshop. Most of these books are pre 1970, so ISBNs aren’t going to be a thing.

Shows what I know!

TBH, having spoken to a couple of people, I’m going to have to spend a couple of days cataloguing them. Ultimately, no one can value ‘a bunch of old books’.

I had around 4000 books to go through recently. While they didn’t have the same sentimental value, i still wanted to get something out of them to go back to my grandma.

We downloaded both the Ziffit and WeBuyBooks app, and spent a good few afternoons scanning each one in and seeing the value.
We did it on both services for each book, and chose to keep it in the pile that offered more.
It was really strange as Ziffit sometimes gave £4 a book, and WeBuyBooks wouldn’t even offer. Yet on the lower value stuff WeBuyBooks always came out ontop.

It was a long long process, but we got a few family members round and turned it into a bit of a story telling excerise. With lots of tea and cake it soon got done.

I think we got around £3k for maybe 3/4 of the books, and the rest went to a local charity shop (Who we called beforehand)

Yeah, probably could have got more.. But it was actually pretty fun, and we didn’t do badly out of it

I’ll see where I get with those apps, thanks.

But 99% of these books will be pre-ISBN and pre-barcode.

Still, I appreciate any guidance on this.

There are specialist book dealers for some subjects, you’d probably find a sports one but cricket probably a bit too specific.

Anywhere near Hay-on-Wye?

Variety of second hand bookshops there that may be interested if it’s a good specific collection.

We had similiar with a load of vintage football and speedway books of my dad’s, they were all worthless, until my brother found a sympathetic and enthusiast specialist shop who bought ’em all, some for his own collection.

I have a little book collection, and it’s worth remembering that the only books that may hold 2nd hand value are the popular first edition early Harry Potter type titles in fine condition and book sleeve (if issued with one of course), or early titles again first editions.

If they aren’t pre-1950 and first editions it good guess they charity shop donations.

Google the titles .. or check Abebooks for similar

I have a little book collection, and it’s worth remembering that the only books that may hold 2nd hand value are the popular first edition early Harry Potter type titles in fine condition and book sleeve (if issued with one of course), or early titles again first editions.

I don’t think you know much about books or book collecting. I have a copy of a book by Tanith Lee, called “When The Lights Go Out”, published in 1997, IIRC. I read it when it was first published, and bought a softcover straight away. The hardcover I got from Canada, paid C$18 for it, in perfect, unmarked condition. Good softcover copies fetch over $100. Last time I saw a perfect hardcover copy for sale it was over $600

I used to work for a publishing company, I used to design and put books together, one I worked on in 1986 was called “Operation Paraquet – The Battle for South Georgia” a copy of that is going for $48 on Amazon.

If a book is scarce, and if it’s a subject that people are interested in, or the history of a subject, collectors will pay good money for old books.
If they’re first editions, especially hardcover copies and signed, collectors will pay good money, like my Terry Pratchett books, many of which I have signed. Copies of that are fetching £1600 – £2000.

Cricket fans can be quite obsessive about the game.

CountZero – I believe your being intentionally pedantic/obtuse- I did write there being exceptions such as the Harry Potter books .. or, as in your example, the Tanith Lee book. 

*But maybe your rudeness is just your online persona.