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1ccarchivar
My father-in-law passed away a couple of years ago and left a collection of ca. 1500 military history books in his home. I am trying to get information about how best to handle them. His family wishes to keep only a very few titles from this collection, and dispose of the bulk.
I do not know the military history subject very well, but I have been piecemeal cataloging a list of these books, which focus on topics of military history (esp. American from colonial through Vietnam, but also Napoleonic, etc.), military theory and analysis (Clausewitz, et al.), manuals, etc. Many of these are clothbound first editions with original dust jackets, although most were mass-produced publications and are only in fair to good to very good condition. I think a few are inscribed. There are probably a few that are valuable, but most can be classified as used trade books. It will take me at least a few months in my spare time to inventory the collection.
I am looking for advice as to the best way to handle this collection, and whether anyone may have any suggestions for dealers or repositories who may wish to peruse and/or accession this collection. We don't wish to just trash his collection if they can be of use to sellers, libraries, or museums, regardless of location.
Any advice you may be able to give on this matter will be greatly appreciated.
I do not know the military history subject very well, but I have been piecemeal cataloging a list of these books, which focus on topics of military history (esp. American from colonial through Vietnam, but also Napoleonic, etc.), military theory and analysis (Clausewitz, et al.), manuals, etc. Many of these are clothbound first editions with original dust jackets, although most were mass-produced publications and are only in fair to good to very good condition. I think a few are inscribed. There are probably a few that are valuable, but most can be classified as used trade books. It will take me at least a few months in my spare time to inventory the collection.
I am looking for advice as to the best way to handle this collection, and whether anyone may have any suggestions for dealers or repositories who may wish to peruse and/or accession this collection. We don't wish to just trash his collection if they can be of use to sellers, libraries, or museums, regardless of location.
Any advice you may be able to give on this matter will be greatly appreciated.
2jztemple
If you are looking to make some money from the collection, either as a profit or to just cover your costs, be careful about letting dealers loose on the books themselves, the less reputable ones will try to pull the wool over your eyes about the value of some of them and may even try to sneak some out. Sad but true. It's better to make an inventory (say here on LibraryThing!) and sent them an electronic or printed copy.
I'm not really up on used book prices for selling (I have a tendency to buy!) but I would imagine that a good starting point for estimating value is to use Amazon; again, it's easier if you have your inventory listed on LibraryThing since it's a one-button hop to the appropriate page on the Amazon site.
In Jacksonville, Florida USA is the Chamblin Bookmine (http://www.chamblinbookmine.com) which is a pretty awesomely huge used book store (actually two stores and a warehouse). They say they have over two million books and having been at both retail locations I can believe them. They do buy books, but I don't know if it's only for store credit or actual cash. Since you have a large collection they might consider buying the whole bunch. Their number is 904-477-9416 (it's also on the web site).
When I mentioned your posting to my wife, she wanted to know where you lived. I said I didn't know and asked her why she wanted to know. She said she figured I'd just want to rent a truck and go buy all of them at once and she was just wondering how long I'd be gone! Smart woman...
I'm not really up on used book prices for selling (I have a tendency to buy!) but I would imagine that a good starting point for estimating value is to use Amazon; again, it's easier if you have your inventory listed on LibraryThing since it's a one-button hop to the appropriate page on the Amazon site.
In Jacksonville, Florida USA is the Chamblin Bookmine (http://www.chamblinbookmine.com) which is a pretty awesomely huge used book store (actually two stores and a warehouse). They say they have over two million books and having been at both retail locations I can believe them. They do buy books, but I don't know if it's only for store credit or actual cash. Since you have a large collection they might consider buying the whole bunch. Their number is 904-477-9416 (it's also on the web site).
When I mentioned your posting to my wife, she wanted to know where you lived. I said I didn't know and asked her why she wanted to know. She said she figured I'd just want to rent a truck and go buy all of them at once and she was just wondering how long I'd be gone! Smart woman...
3ccarchivar
Thanks for the reply! I live in the Boston, Mass. area, which is where the collection is housed as well. And thanks for the heads-up about less-than-reputable dealers. We're not looking to make a lot of money on this collection; if some museum, library or military academy wants them that would be great, although I suspect military academies and colleges have big enough collections already. I am continuing to work on an inventory and will have it posted to LibraryThing soon (I hope, fingers crossed).
4Ohjai
Before I became aware of Library Thing, I put all of my books into a program called ReaderWare.
Once in there I was able to import into Library Thing. What I like about Reader Ware is I can use a bar code scanner to input books. Those without bar codes are easily inputted then I go on the web and search for each one using any one of several look up sites. It allows for multiple copies, descriptions, cost, location, etc. I have had Reader ware for several years, but recently hired a college student to input my 1600 books for me. It took her about 3 weeks.
Sorry to hear about your Father-in-Law, but I know my boys will be going through what you are in a few years.
Once in there I was able to import into Library Thing. What I like about Reader Ware is I can use a bar code scanner to input books. Those without bar codes are easily inputted then I go on the web and search for each one using any one of several look up sites. It allows for multiple copies, descriptions, cost, location, etc. I have had Reader ware for several years, but recently hired a college student to input my 1600 books for me. It took her about 3 weeks.
Sorry to hear about your Father-in-Law, but I know my boys will be going through what you are in a few years.
5jmnlman
2:I had the same idea although Boston is quite the drive from Western Canada.
Another option would be an estate auction particularly for the more unusual items although it is of course also possible to sell lots of more common material. The problem you're going to run into is that for the common stuff the market is thoroughly thrashed. Just go on to Amazon and see how many books are selling for $0.01.
The core of my WWII holdings was from a gentleman's collection in Colorado. This was back when m-bag international shipments was still financially practical. It's hard to know if the collections are comparable without more detail. Most of the books were from the major commercial publishers with a few from academic publishers. Most were first editions. I think it worked out to about $3 per book in the end. Sorry to be a bit of a downer.
Another option would be an estate auction particularly for the more unusual items although it is of course also possible to sell lots of more common material. The problem you're going to run into is that for the common stuff the market is thoroughly thrashed. Just go on to Amazon and see how many books are selling for $0.01.
The core of my WWII holdings was from a gentleman's collection in Colorado. This was back when m-bag international shipments was still financially practical. It's hard to know if the collections are comparable without more detail. Most of the books were from the major commercial publishers with a few from academic publishers. Most were first editions. I think it worked out to about $3 per book in the end. Sorry to be a bit of a downer.
6rudel519
Hi,
Military books tend to bring more interest from used book stores. The usual going rate is 1/3 of their selling price for credit in trade, 1/6 for cash. A lot of used book stores are struggling due to the economy and have stopped paying cash for books. Perhaps what you can do is first look through the books and put book club editions and paperbacks in one pile or set of boxes; more recent (1990's to present), mass produced, in another set of boxes; and older books, military manuals (WW2 and earlier), official and unit histories, and signed in a third set of boxes. Start with the third set first and get a feeling for some of the current prices using www.bookfinder.com or www.vialibri.net for foreign books, concentrating on condition of book and dj and go with the low price for an estimate. Depending on how common they are, newer books in very good condition usually sell for half of the cover price as do paperbacks. Bookclubs would probably sell for around $5 - $8 and usually are not worth figuring in. Then decide if you want cash or trade. That will give you a rough estimate of what they are worth. Then decide if you want to deal locally with a used bookstore or with a larger dealer like Q.M. Dabney in NJ. Both will want to know what books (type and titles of a few of the pricier ones) and then would come to you and take a look at the books and make you an offer. If you know the rough value of them, you'll be able to haggle on the price better.
Once you get them listed on LibraryThing, I can help point out the better books in the collection and it sounds like others will help as well. Hope that helps!
Military books tend to bring more interest from used book stores. The usual going rate is 1/3 of their selling price for credit in trade, 1/6 for cash. A lot of used book stores are struggling due to the economy and have stopped paying cash for books. Perhaps what you can do is first look through the books and put book club editions and paperbacks in one pile or set of boxes; more recent (1990's to present), mass produced, in another set of boxes; and older books, military manuals (WW2 and earlier), official and unit histories, and signed in a third set of boxes. Start with the third set first and get a feeling for some of the current prices using www.bookfinder.com or www.vialibri.net for foreign books, concentrating on condition of book and dj and go with the low price for an estimate. Depending on how common they are, newer books in very good condition usually sell for half of the cover price as do paperbacks. Bookclubs would probably sell for around $5 - $8 and usually are not worth figuring in. Then decide if you want cash or trade. That will give you a rough estimate of what they are worth. Then decide if you want to deal locally with a used bookstore or with a larger dealer like Q.M. Dabney in NJ. Both will want to know what books (type and titles of a few of the pricier ones) and then would come to you and take a look at the books and make you an offer. If you know the rough value of them, you'll be able to haggle on the price better.
Once you get them listed on LibraryThing, I can help point out the better books in the collection and it sounds like others will help as well. Hope that helps!
7ccarchivar
To Ohjai: Thank you very much for the ReaderWare suggestion.
8ccarchivar
To rudel519: Thanks for the great - and thorough - info and suggestions. I'm not expecting much from print copies, especially mass market stuff that may already be converted into e-books, but I'm sure there is something in this collection that somebody wants somewhere! I'll try to get it up on LibraryThing ASAP.
9ccarchivar
To jmnlman: No problem, and you're not a downer (I've never met a Canadian yet who is) - I just hate to see books trashed, although in many cases it's unavoidable. And as I mentioned, we're not looking at these books as a gold mine - we just need to make room since eventually the house will be sold.
10GreyGhost
You might want to check with the following if they would like the library in whole or part in return for money or a tax receipt: Pritzker Military Library in Chicago, Norwich University in Vermont, US Army Heritage and Education Centre in Carlilse PA. Those are just ones I can think of off the top of my head. Might also check with the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto Canada, or Royal Military College in Kingston, ON.
11ccarchivar
Thank you - great suggestions. I will contact them.
12Marylandreb
Good luck selling that many titles. :) As has been stated by some here, some dealers will try and steal the valuable titles (if there are some) and leave the more common titles. Selling the whole collection together probably nets the least amount of money. Have you considered pricing the books and either setting up at a military show or gun show in your area? You also visit Military History forums that have classified ad sections and post your contact info, Craigslist etc. I am always buying civil war books that I don't have....feel free to privatemessage me with civil war titles you want to sell with the price and condition. Good luck.
