Buying

We purchase books by appointment only. This method ensures that we have the correct buyer available to look at your collection, as some of our buyers specialize in certain areas. If you drop-in without calling ahead, there may not be someone available to look at your books. We have limited storage, and are not able to hold books until a buyer is available.

We do not give values without seeing the book. This means that we do not give out 'ball park figures', 'ranges', minimums' or 'maximums'.

Though there are always exceptions to the rules, the following are some general guide lines.

What We Buy |What We Do Not Buy
| Factors that Increase or Decrease the Value of Your Book |
Off-site Buying | About Family Bibles

We buy:

• Books in nice condition (We are picky!)
• Hardcover and Paperback
• Single books, Box lots
• Estates
• Large libraries
• Inventory of new & used bookstores and internet bookdealers
• Pre-1900 colour-plate books and pre-1900 atlases in any condition
• Book-related antiques
• Bookcases
• Historical documents
• Advertising & other ephemera
• Postcards
• Photographs
• Prints & Art
• Posters
• Paper collectibles
• Diaries, journals, manuscripts
• Autographs
• Bookends and Bookcases
• Writing instruments
• Maps, atlases & globes
  
  Antiques: Unusual items that strike our fancy
• Small mechanical antiques
• Older Film Cameras
• Typewriters
• Lamps
• Scientific and Medical Antiques
• Musical Antiques
• Unusual Tables and Chairs (single and in pairs)
• Textiles and rugs
• Uniform and Vintage Fashions (especially hats)
• Costume Jewellry
• Fun items that range form the macabre to the erotic and exotic
  
  

We do not buy:

• Books in poor condition
• Incomplete sets
• 20th Century Encyclopedias
• Sports cards, or comics (you should sell those to specialized shops)
• Reader's Digest or Book Club editions
• National Geographic Books or Magazines
• Timelife Books or Magazines
• Textbooks (except early editions, Dick & Jane)
• Harlequins or other such series
• Books that we have too many copies of
• Books that are easily dated
• Musty books, books that have been wet
• Most magazines
• Most ex-library books
• Most marked books (ie. hi-lighted, underlined)
  

Factors That May Increase the Value of Your Book:

• signed by author
• signed or owned by famous person
• dust jacket intact: on modern 1st editions, the value of the dust jacket can be more than 90% of the value in some cases. This is especially true of early 20th century literature.

Factors That May Decrease the Value of Your Book:

• poor condition
• underlining
• hi-lighting
• marker over ownership marks
• library markings
• mustiness or other odours, including heavy smoke
• Missing the dustwrap if it was issued with one

Off-Site Book Buying

We will travel to view collections for purchase in special circumstances, including:

• very large collections
• antiquarian collections of special interest

We do not travel for the following collections:

• paperbacks
• law practice books (excepting antiquarian books and histories of law)
• medical practice books (excepting antiquarian books and histories of medicine)

Family Bibles

What is my family Bible worth?

The Bible is the most printed book in the world, and as such is common. Very large or very small Bibles are the most desirable. Unusual editions of those printed before 1800 are of interest. Study Bibles and Bible reference books are desired if they are in nice condition.

We only buy Bibles in nice condition. Condition is very important for Bibles to have any monetary value.

Almost all of the cash we have found in books has been in family Bibles (almost $50 in 30 years). More often collectable bookmarks or other neat ephemera are found in Bibles.

Can my family Bible be repaired?

While it is possible to refurbish family Bibles, it is not cost effective for a retail store. If the Bible has sentimental value we can recommend several bookbinders. Be aware that this is very labour intensive and therefore costly.