Rare book collecting online
We all like to go rare book collecting by rummaging though bookshops looking for rare books and there is nothing to replace the thrill of discovering a bargain priced edition tucked away in a dusty junk shop or at a flea market. However, increasingly, rare book collectors are turning to the internet to source additions to their collections.
Has the internet spoiled rare book collecting?
Obviously we don't know what you think, but we don't think it has caused any damage to the pursuit of rare book collecting. What the internet has done is it's has made it easier to find the books that you want to add to your collection. How else could you find, for example, all these rare 1st edition Harry Potter books for sale right now, 24-7?
The internet is a vast searchable database so instead of having to look through ten million second hand books for the one you want, you can simply search and discard all the ones that you're not interested in.
Does this make rare book collecting less fun?
Well, we'd argue that it doesn't, though there's no doubt that it's more clinical than actually routing through piles of bookshelves or boxes. I suppose it depends on how much time you have, if you have plenty of time to kill, you might well prefer to physically inspect every addition to your library and there's nothing wrong with that. Buying online does involve an element of trust and an understanding of the way that internet commerce works - particularly with respect to the way that purchases are protected in the event of disputes with sellers. What you will find though, is that in most cases, buyers do have pretty good come-back against sellers who don't deliver what they promise as long as you buy through a reputable marketplaces such as Ebay. Ebay, through it's paypal payments division provides excellent protection to buyers (in fact it's so good that many sellers constantly complain about buyers having all the rights, but this is a website for rare book collectors rather than dealers, so that's all good for you!)
If buying rare books online how do I make sure I don't get ripped off?
When buying rare books online, it's vital that you undertake the same common sense checks that you would take if you were buying face to face. When chasing after a particularly exciting first edition or signed edition it's easy to get a bit carried away, so take a deep breath before you take out your credit card and think about the following:
- Am I buying through a reputable marketplace like eBay which will give buyers protection if they get ripped off?
- Can I be sure that the seller actually owns the book that they are selling? (If in doubt, contact them and request extra photos, or ask for specific details that only appear on the edition they are advertising to ensure that they really do have it to hand).
- Am I happy that I understand the description and condition of the book or the gradings being used online? There is nothing worse than buying what you think is a treasured edition of a book only to receive it and discover that it looks like it's been run over by 200 cars before being picked up and sold to you. (If in doubt, check with the seller, ask for more photos and if you are relying on a website or marketplace standard grading system, read it and re-read it to make sure you have a good idea what they mean).
- Can I pay with a credit card (if spending over £100) in order to benefit from additional consumer credit Act protection? If you pay by credit card in the UK and the transaction is over the threshold, you are automatically given some protection by the credit card company who becomes jointly liable for ensuring that the transaction is successfully completed. In plain terms, if you get ripped off, they are liable to refund you!
By following these common sense steps you should be able to avoid any problems.
Where is the best place online for rare book collectors to buy?
There are many online bookshops and book dealers specialising in rare and antiquarian books for sale. However, as mentioned above, as a buyer, it's great to have some extra protection if things go wrong, and the biggest online marketplace offering the best protection to buyers is eBay. That's why we set this site up which is here to bring you quick and easy access to the very rarest first editions, signed books, manuscripts and bibliophile rarities. All you need to do to locate the most exciting books currently for sale by your favorite authors is choose a link on the right of the page (these are sorted by author). We can't ever cover every possible author or type of book so if you can't see the one you want, use the search box at the top because this is a direct search through literally millions of listings.
We hope you find the site useful. Please bookmark us and tell your friends about us via social media and enjoy your online rare book collecting.