Buying & Selling Rare Books   The following pathfinder is a guide to buying and selling rare books. Although the rare book business probably is not the quickest way to get rich fast, it is a fun way to earn a little extra cash, and who knows--- some of those dusty books in your attic could be worth hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars.  Using this pathfinder, you will easily learn about the ins-and-outs of the rare boor business.   Starting Out     Small Business      Auctions        Exhibitions       Associations    Let's Begin: The following URLs are all good sites to visit when learning about the rare book business.  Each of these sites offer valuable information and are terrific resources to refer to as you begin your rare book business.  Please note that all of these sites are original and unique; thus, one is not favored over the other.  They should be examined individually to have a good understanding about the rare book biz. Alibris: A very good site for used and hard-to-find books and art.  Suggest looking at the information found in the Reading Room.  A lot of valuable insight into the world of rare books.  Find out which ones are worth a lot of $$$ and which are worth very little. Book Information A terrific resource dedicated to providing information about all aspects of book collecting, buying, and selling. The material found on this site is insightful, with plenty of free downloads and a fantastic index which enables the reader to quickly and easily find links to other rare book resources. Bublos.com Perhaps the best book price comparison site on the Web.  Also, the directory is not half bad either.  The best part of this site, though, is the information about rare books, where to find them and how to sell them.  This site also offers a lot of good information about contemporary books as well, and provides links to booksellers  in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.  Warning, don't read this site unless you have a lot of time on your hands.  It is easy to spend hours and hours here!!! Fadedgiant.net A database of over 40,000 rare book titles, Fadedgiant.net is the largest free online database available. Suggest using this site to find out how much your rare books are actually worth.  Provides contact information for questions as well as plenty of other book news and events.  One problem with site, however, is that it can be temperamental and not always available to work.  Keep trying, though, because it really is a very good! Powells Books An independent bookseller in Portland, Oregon, this site can be used to purchase rare books. Also, for those in the Portland Metropolitan area, you may want to check out the calendar of events.  The real gem of this site, however, is the Rare Book Room.  In the  Rare Book Basics readers will find a very good glossary of book terminology and condition standards.                                                                    Back to Top               Starting Up So you think those books are worth $$$ and you are ready to begin a small business.  Here are a couple of resources available to help you out.  Also, I suggest reading your local newspaper, especially the community events calendars. A lot of times, especially in areas with academic institutions, seminars and workshops are held to teach people how to start their own businesses.  Some of these classes cost a lot of money, so be careful and judge wisely before coughing up the green for a class. Small Business Notes: Starting a Bookstore A well organized site that offers plenty of links to other sites about starting out in the book biz.  Read how  Edward Shanahan started his own used book store, and the ups-and-downs he has faced as a man running his own business.  The other sites are well worth checking, too! Complete Guide to Starting a Used Bookstore: Old Books into Gold Written by Dale L. Gilbert, this book is itself limited in availability.  Suggest checking your local public library for a copy.  Scroll down this page, though, and skim the similar titles--- some may be worth having a copy of your own.                                                                       Back to Top   Letting the Bidding Begin... Auctions are a great place to both collect and sell rare books.  Keep in mind that there are auctions held all over the world. While you will need to do your own research regarding auctions, these sites are probably the best place to start. Americana Exchange Membership required to get full access to this site. Folks can sign up for a free membership but those paying dues get more benefits.  This site does provide excellent information about auctions, including an auction calendar, information about different auction houses, and auction records.  There is other very good information on the site, so some may consider becoming a member. eBay Hey, what can I say?  It is easy to use (for the most part) and it can get the job done.  For those who do not have the finances to travel to auctions, eBay is a fine alternative. PBA Galleries Based in San Francisco, PBA is one of the finest auction houses in the world.  They have a terrific rare book appraisal event, online auctions, and much more.  You do need to subscribe to get full access to this site, but as a member you will receive plenty of catalogs and newsletters.                                                                        Back to Top     Exhibits: Some of the best places to learn about rare books and view terrific rare book collections are on college campuses. The following links are to rare book collections and exhibits at universities in North America and Canada.   Exhibitions Program Sponsored by the Book Arts Press and held in the Dome Room of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, this page offers insight into UVA's rare books exhibits since its first one was held in 1996. Contact information is also available, so if you are traveling or living in the UVA area, you may want to stop and view their most current exhibit. Smith College: Mortimer Rare Book Room With over 25,000 volumes the Mortimer Rare Book Room at Smith College is one of the greatest reading rooms in the United States.  This page offers a glimpse of the Mortimer Rare Book Room, the current exhibit, as well as some very good information (with links) about how to find a book's publishing history and the background and history of a book.   University of Toronto-Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library  Part of the University of Toronto's Humanities Center, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Room offers a range of exhibits each year as well as conferences and workshops.  This site currently explores the Marco Polo exhibit which was held this past spring and summer.  It includes links, highlights, and program information.                                                                      Back to Top    Associations For those serious about their profession, it is never a bad idea to join a professional associations or two. Associations often offer great discounts on conferences and workshops, professional support if needed, discounts on resources, and access to the latest news.  Here are links to a couple of professional associations for rare book dealers and collectors.  Good Luck! Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America For more than 50 years, the Antiquarian Booksellers's Association of America (ABAA) has been offering quality professional support, materials, and information for rare book collectors.  This site offers lots of links to almost every aspect of book collecting, buying, selling, and more such as book fairs to visit, other sites to visit, and links to the top news sources.  This is a very well organized, informative site. International League of Antiquarian Booksellers Find links to almost every rare book association in the world here.  As the site reads, the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers "speaks for twenty nations and 2000 leading booksellers throughout the world."  The League is provides a link to the antiquarian booksellers of the world.