Collecting & Selling Tips

This area is devoted to tips for collectors and sellers alike on what to look for when selling and purchasing, what to do about formats and that infamous red herring--the copyright date! For several guides on Nancy Drew®, visit the Books About Nancy Drew® section. If you are interested in having your books identified and valued, I do appraisals.

If you are relatively new to collecting, this section should prove most helpful. With the increased growth of the internet comes a huge increase in the number of series book related websites with for-sales pages. Bookstores have begun to sell their inventory online. Auction sites like eBay are offering a large assortment of your favorite series--often you will find that book or collectible you cannot find in your local stores.

With auctions, it is easy to let auction fever overtake you. With the wide variety of websites and auctions, be sure to shop around, always ask questions, and never pay more than you think the book or collectible is worth or more than you can afford. Often collectors will tell you, it is worth what you paid.

Most of all, consider the search for treasured volumes your own sleuthing adventure. An adventure, it really is--especially in regard to the more elusive and rarer formats!

This is my chance to influence some sellers or future sellers with some simple advice. Especially if you are selling your books at auction, Take the time to be detailed! It will result in less e-mails from buyers asking for the details.

Give your potential buyer/bidder the following information for books with dust jackets:

• The Series and total number listed for that series on the front inner flap of the dj
• The Series and total number listed for that series on the back inner flap of the dj
• The Series and total number listed for that series on the back cover of the dj

Give your potential buyer/bidder the following information for books without dust jackets:

• The Series and total number listed for that series on an inside listing of books--if there is an inside listing--either pre or post text.
• If there is no inside listing, then note that.

Give your potential buyer/bidder the following information for books that are picture covers--the last listed book on the back cover of the book. If the last listed book for example re: Nancy Drew® books, is the Cookbook, then also list the next to last book.

The reason for this information, which may seem a bother to some sellers at taking the time to note it, is to be able to distinguish between common and 1st printings/formats, rarities, etc.. I cannot count the number of e-mails I send to sellers asking for this information--the same information I put into my own auction listings.

Finding a way to put up a picture will increase bidding and buying. A picture is truly worth a thousand words!

The Red Herring

To both sellers and collectors: Do not be fooled by the copyright date! It was not changed from printing to printing unless the text was revised. It is not reflective of what printing you are actually holding in your hands! With the exception of a couple of printings for picture covers that actually noted a printing date, 99 percent do not have this information. You have to look to other factors about the book to determine the actual printing date.

Good luck in your collecting and selling!