How to Source Antique Books

Here are some of my favorite antique book buying resources. 

1. Online auctions. This is hands down the quickest approach to building a large inventory for little effort and cost. The best estate sale sites I've found are: www.maxsold.com; www.estatesales.net; and www.auctionninja.com. Simply add your location and you'll receive a list of in-person and online sales near you. The downside to online auctions include not being able to preview items before purchase, and the risk of being outbid. In my experience, I wait until the last day of the auction to start placing bids. If I bid too early and someone else is interested, the price is going to climb. Those last few minutes of an auction are crucial, so make sure you're logged in to the site in case someone places a last minute bid. Also, set the maximum price you're willing to pay, and DON'T go over it!! On several occasions, I've engaged in a bidding war with someone and paid more than what I intended. Try not to make my mistake, as it only eats into your profits. Sometimes, you just have to walk away. 

2. Estate sales. Sign up for newsletters from local estate sale companies, so you'll be notified about upcoming sales. Also check out estatesales.net for in-person sales. I've found that estate sale companies in my area generally price books at $1 each. Think about it, they're selling the ENTIRE CONTENTS of a house and it would be incredibly time consuming to price each book. If you wait until the second or third day of the sale, books can drop as low as $0.50 each.

3. Chain thrift stores such as Goodwill, Saver's, and The Salvation Army. First a word about local thrift stores run by churches and other nonprofits: I love these little shops and I've found plenty of treasures there. However, I've noticed an increase in book prices as savvy volunteers research donations and price them accordingly. Fortunately, this is not the case with chain thrift stores. They receive ENORMOUS quantities of everything, and they need to move it as quickly as possible. This translates to great deals for you. You can save even more, by signing up for free memberships with extra percentage off savings at various times of the year. Saver's also offers a 20% off coupon if you donate goods to their store. 

4. Craigslist. It seems as though Craigslist has decreased in popularity in recent years, but it's still a viable source for me. I set up alerts and receive an email whenever my keywords match a new listing. I've also created posts in "wanted," stating I own a business and buy book collections. There is a nominal fee for this option ($5). 

5. Facebook Marketplace. Similar to Craigslist, you can create alerts for certain criteria. I only buy books locally on Facebook Marketplace, but many sellers offer shipping as well.

6. Local used bookstores. There are two wonderful used bookstores in my area (I'm planning to blog about them in a future post). Their selections range from beach reads to scarce antiquarian hardcovers. This source requires some patience, since knowledgeable booksellers usually price at market value. However, there are still deals to be had if you know where to look. This is also a favorite source when I'm looking for a particular type of book to sell, as I know they will have some in stock. 

7. Book sales. I haven't actually used this a source yet, because my local libraries only tend to sell newer books. But I will keep trying! Use www.booksalefinder.com to discover sales in your area.

8. Where NOT to buy: yard sales, antique malls, and flea markets. This is not a hard and fast rule, but I haven't had much luck with any of these sources. Yard sales tend to sell paperbacks and bestsellers, antique malls are incredibly overpriced, and flea markets are a mixed bag. It never hurts to look, though!

I hope you've found this list helpful. These tips are geared towards books, but they can be applied to any items (clothes, electronics, vintage) you're looking to resell. Feel free to share your favorite sources in the comments section.