Comprehensive guide to buying and selling at auction — Heritage Auctions, Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams, Swann, and PBA Galleries. Covers buyer's premiums, bidding strategy, consignment negotiation, reserve prices, recent record sales for modern signed firsts, and how to choose the right auction house for your specialty.
Read the entry →Comprehensive guide to scouting for modern first editions — estate sale strategies, thrift store and library discard hunting, the 30-second edition check, smartphone tools for identification, the scout-dealer relationship, and how to recognize a valuable first edition in the wild. Covers Half-Price Books strategy, Goodwill strategy, and the 2026 scouting landscape.
Read the entry →Comprehensive guide to buying and selling rare books at auction — covering Christie's, Sotheby's, Heritage Auctions, Bonhams, Swann, and specialist houses — with buyer's premium calculations, bidding strategies, catalog terminology, and how to evaluate pre-sale estimates.
Read the entry →Everything you need to know about antiquarian book fairs — the major fair circuit (New York, London, PBFA, California), how fairs work, buying strategies, dealer etiquette, negotiation tactics, and why book fairs remain the best way to find rare books despite the rise of online selling.
Read the entry →Comprehensive guide to finding rare books outside the dealer market — thrift store scouting, estate sale strategies, library deaccession, charity shop touring, garage sale finds, and the economics of book scouting — with realistic expectations about hit rates, the knowledge required, and why this is the most rewarding (and most frustrating) way to build a collection.
Read the entry →Starting a rare book collection can be overwhelming. Learn practical strategies for choosing a focus, setting a budget, finding books, building knowledge, and avoiding the common mistakes that new collectors make.
Read the entry →Buying rare books at auction offers access to the best material, but the process intimidates newcomers. Learn how to register, bid, set limits, read catalog descriptions, and avoid common auction mistakes.
Read the entry →Antiquarian book fairs bring hundreds of dealers together under one roof, offering the best opportunity to see, handle, and purchase rare books in person. Learn how to prepare, what to look for, and how to get the most from your book fair experience.
Read the entry →Estate sales are one of the last great sources for undervalued rare books. Learn how to find estate sales with books, what to look for, how to evaluate quickly on-site, and the etiquette of estate sale buying.
Read the entry →Auction houses are one of the primary sources for rare and valuable books, offering access to exceptional material, transparent pricing, and competitive bidding. Learn how book auctions work, how to bid effectively, and what to watch out for.
Read the entry →AbeBooks is the largest online marketplace for rare and used books, listing millions of titles from thousands of dealers worldwide. Learn how to search effectively, evaluate dealer reliability, and avoid common buying mistakes on AbeBooks.
Read the entry →The internet transformed rare book buying, making millions of titles available from dealers worldwide. Learn about major online platforms, how to evaluate listings remotely, what to watch for, and how to buy confidently without handling the book first.
Read the entry →A good rare book dealer is a collector's most valuable resource — offering expertise, authentication, fair pricing, and access to material you won't find elsewhere. Here's how to find the right dealer, evaluate their reliability, and build a productive relationship.
Read the entry →Some of the best rare book finds happen outside traditional dealers and auction houses. Learn how to spot valuable books at estate sales, thrift stores, and garage sales — and how to evaluate what you find before buying.
Read the entry →Library book sales are one of the best remaining sources for undervalued rare books. Learn how to find sales, what to look for, scouting strategies, and the ethics of library sale scouting.
Read the entry →Complete guide to buying rare books online safely — comparing AbeBooks, eBay, Biblio, viaLibri, and specialist dealer websites, with strategies for authentication, condition verification, avoiding fraud, and getting the best prices across platforms.
Read the entry →Rare book fairs are the premier events for discovering, handling, and buying rare books. From the New York Antiquarian Book Fair to the London fair and regional shows, here's everything you need to know about attending and buying at book fairs.
Read the entry →Buying a first edition requires careful examination — verifying the edition, assessing condition, checking for completeness, and confirming authenticity. Here is a systematic checklist of everything you should examine before committing to a purchase.
Read the entry →Thrift stores are one of the last places where valuable books can be found at giveaway prices. Learn what to look for, how to scan shelves efficiently, and which categories of books are most likely to yield finds.
Read the entry →ABEBooks is the largest online marketplace for rare and used books, listing millions of titles from thousands of dealers worldwide. Learn how to navigate the platform, evaluate listings, avoid common traps, and buy with confidence.
Read the entry →Buying from established rare book dealers is the safest way to build a quality collection. Learn how to find reputable dealers, evaluate their offerings, negotiate fairly, and build the relationships that lead to the best books.
Read the entry →Estate sales are one of the best sources for undervalued rare books. Learn how to find estate sales with book collections, evaluate what you see, negotiate prices, and avoid the common mistakes that cost buyers money.
Read the entry →Thrift stores and charity shops occasionally yield remarkable book finds — first editions worth hundreds or thousands of dollars shelved alongside mass-market paperbacks. Learn how to scout efficiently and recognize value.
Read the entry →eBay is the world's largest marketplace for rare books by volume, offering both extraordinary bargains and significant risks. Learn how to search effectively, evaluate listings, and protect yourself.
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