Selling signed first editions.

[AE35Unit]

I have quite a few David Attenborough first eds on my shelf, and I got curious about their worth, so I looked on Abe books and got a shock. Life on Earth, (check),first edition (check), signed,(check), £500+! Similar story with Private life of Plants.
Also a complete set of his zoo quest books, unsigned (check), £2000!
Question is, how could I be certain that I would get that much for them? I'm not a book collector, so I would be happy with cheaper, reading copies. (although those Zoo Quest books are hard to come by)

 

[hitmouse]

You cannot be certain that you will get that much for yours. These are only nominal values invented by dealers. It depends on someone actually being willing to shell out to have any real meaning.
You may find that dealers have had these on sale for a very long time: they are usually willing to wait.

For a useful comparison, see what these books go for on eBay auction.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Seconding Hitmouse - what is asked for isn’t necessarily the value. Go to ebay and look it up under the sold items filter. I find it a good selling place too.
attenborough is collectible though - I have a signed autobiography by him and its worth £150

 

[AE35Unit]

Damn, I was hoping to raise enough money to get a new DSLR before mine dies, or at least a decent super wide zoom

 

[Bick]

I have quite a few David Attenborough first eds on my shelf, and I got curious about their worth, so I looked on Abe books and got a shock. Life on Earth, (check),first edition (check), signed,(check), £500+! Similar story with Private life of Plants.
Also a complete set of his zoo quest books, unsigned (check), £2000!
Question is, how could I be certain that I would get that much for them? I'm not a book collector, so I would be happy with cheaper, reading copies. (although those Zoo Quest books are hard to come by)

You can be sure, if you offer a ‘buy now’ or reserve price at the price you want on eBay. Easy.

 

[AE35Unit]

You can be sure, if you offer a ‘buy now’ or reserve price at the price you want on eBay. Easy.

I don't really do ebay

 

[AE35Unit]

Damn, I was hoping to raise enough money to get a new DSLR before mine dies, or at least a decent super wide zoom

Seriously, I need it

 

[Danny McG]

Who would want a book that somebody had scrawled all over?

 

[Rodders]

Have you approached any book dealers, AE35Unit? There are quite a few in the Charing Cross area.

 

[AE35Unit]

Who would want a book that somebody had scrawled all over?

Book collectors!