| Old books can make for a fun home-based business | | | | folks. Don't judge a book by its cover or a house by |
| while giving you a profitable side business that will | | | | its appearance I guess is the lesson here! You never |
| make you money and cultural experiences too. You | | | | know what you'll find. I also found some other great |
| may already have a nice collection of old, rare, | | | | cookbooks and books there. |
| vintage or antique books or cookbooks. | | | | To research the value I would avoid the usual rare |
| Cookbooks are the third most popular category | | | | book price guides. Many of these are outdated. The |
| among new books and a good one to start with. | | | | actual price is today's price. |
| People often raid their parents' and grandparents' | | | | To find out what the books should sell for, go to |
| collections to find good used cookbooks. | | | | your favorite search engine and type in the title. You |
| To find and buy old books, first check your local | | | | should be able to find sites that are selling the same |
| library for its "Friends of the Library" book sales. | | | | title and give you a broad range to choose from. |
| They have annual sales of donated books and many | | | | Finding 'sold' book prices are much better. |
| antique dealers line up for these. Of course it helps to | | | | One you've established a price, the fastest way to |
| know your prices, so to begin with you might stick | | | | sell these books is to sell them online at your own |
| to a particular category, for example cookbooks. You | | | | website or get a free one from any of the sites |
| can usually get books for 25 cents to a dollar and on | | | | who are offering this service. |
| the last day they have a bag sale. | | | | I'd definitely add photos of the books. They should |
| Sometimes you can get books free at the end of | | | | be of high quality. Take close up shots of the title |
| the sale. But the best time to go is the night before | | | | page and a sample recipe page. Take shots from |
| the sale when they let the members of the "Friends" | | | | different angles. Pick about six of your best shots. |
| buy cheap, in advance of the sale. Membership usually | | | | If you're in hurry, price them lower than the other |
| runs about $10 a year and you can easily make your | | | | books. If you aren't in a hurry price them at the high |
| money back with your first sale. It's a good cause | | | | end of the range. Then when the others are sold |
| besides. | | | | your price will be a bargain. Antique books will |
| You want to look for books that you've done your | | | | generally rise in price as they become rare. |
| research on, of course, but also look for any book | | | | Of course there are many other ways to sell your |
| from the pre 1900s in fair condition. They will usually | | | | old books. eBay is another of course. And there are |
| get you at least ten times what you paid for it. | | | | lots of ways to sell them offline too. Be open to |
| Also look at flea markets, garage sales, estate sales | | | | different venues. |
| and auctions. I found a signed copy of a rare, signed | | | | Finding and selling old, rare, vintage or antique books |
| Julia Child cookbook with dust jacket intact in fine | | | | or cookbooks is great fun, with very little upfront |
| condition at an estate sale. It was also signed by her | | | | costs. With these tips and this information, it should |
| husband Paul Child, the illustrator. The book was | | | | help you know how to start buying and selling used |
| appraised at $500. | | | | books and cookbooks, have a nice side home-based |
| The house was in an area of little houses with older | | | | business, a cultural experience, and lots of fun too. |