Rare books selling?

knightstyle

So I have given to charity lots of my fathers books but there is one set that I wonder about...

Is this worth anything and where to sell?  I see similar on Ebay for $3000 but I have the set of 6 published in 1717.

martindow

I think I would email photos of books like this to antiquarian bookshops or specialist auction houses and get their opinions.  One of the difficulties with books, is that their conditition can have a huge effect on the value which makes comparing prices on Ebay tricky.

KxMx

Are you looking at sold prices on eBay, or for sale prices? 

Grumpelstiltskin

Contact a specialist auction house with photos they will advise you. Try your local genuine antique auction house, mine sells books sometimes.

soolin

I would definitely get a specialist to look at the set, perhaps even a specialist auction as prices are all over the place. Here’s an unsold single edition from 1707 that if sold will net the seller around £25 onky

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275152276115?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1KuSoVH9ySyygqwkq7eOQ_g51&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=275152276115&targetid=1647205089000&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045006&poi=&campaignid=17206177401&mkgroupid=136851690655&rlsatarget=pla-1647205089000&abcId=9300866&merchantid=101474151&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiJPHs8ym_AIVhLTtCh0SqAC0EAQYASABEgIRjPD_BwE

heres a much later set 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195513482391?hash=item2d8582fc97:g:C7MAAOSw2GhjlgIF&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwC5A62nYmeytNECUF5AXzfY6e5aawef0l9LimXgr%2FFk692Q8MuNSgxLfFZTNrx%2FtPqUqBgLxup%2F99ivKAWsGSXjzbjrQ9cT3yS%2FCY8tKtVMSB0EAOxfNbsbkQlSPJsxiqiFxiUYST35H7rq%2BtDGqj5tw66bRFwfsbijgs1GyO3p%2F8hVo9jSwea9c2K131N3BcZTP%2BYKrH2iq%2BUjK3wgKVILMZCckvFu9D74jGQ7mhxAOofz3Hx5lFx%2Fd%2BnhMx%2FvDRA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4jus9ytYQ

soolin

Is this your set?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255841456085?hash=item3b9156cfd5:g:n2AAAOSwjhpjRV4U&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwLylOwXH%2FQELSNOHDINWuqGE%2Fn8ybr%2FNWBHZdYqAGcCiCrF8pKbQIsNbim3a24hOUSgim8wxK%2FqwofQ%2FRDC3wV0ci52%2BbjwVWpnya8V9xdsYBBIxYbcVU6eB1tIoDD%2FrIJJuj5bKyG2vOQW%2FTYI4s5tOKVqBJcfrMBcPYuoQsSNGs5ECOUVcj8%2FkZK6x1xZcc3z%2FB7Mb96W5ZH%2Bu5Xdrv9ZmeUaLpSbiaFbupbgvNZ5z7TpNcqlQZdcVpJ0ycCIWQQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-7_udytYQ

sold for £255 but the seller has seriously underrated their postage costs. 

soolin

In fact a quick look shows several volumes and sets being sold all over the place, they don’t make a great deal of money when you think how old they are, but definitely worth selling. 

A google search and a search for eBay completed/sold listings brings up quite a few options. 

Grumpelstiltskin

Selling through a genuine auction house does away with all the hassle of posting. OK they take a cut but no hassle.

knightstyle

Thanks every one, well it looks like they may sell for a few hundred, shame as we could do with a bit to replace our car!
Just like the stamps he collected for years insured for £1000s but only got a few hundred when sold.
I have sent details to Chiswick auctions as they have a stamp in them from Snelston Hall which was demolished in the 50s.

soolin

knightstyle said:

Thanks every one, well it looks like they may sell for a few hundred, shame as we could do with a bit to replace our car!
Just like the stamps he collected for years insured for £1000s but only got a few hundred when sold.
I have sent details to Chiswick auctions as they have a stamp in them from Snelston Hall which was demolished in the 50s.

A London auction house is a good idea as you may attract some serious collectors, before you agree to sell through them check the costs carefully. Some auction houses charge not only a percentage on the hammer price but also for cataloguing, entry fees and insurance. So be clear before you allow them to sell what they are likely to charge you. 

knightstyle

Thanks think it is 15% for sellers but will look at additional costs.