Sell your Books
How to sell your books to us
If you have books you are thinking of selling, we are always happy to take a look. Ink & Signature Books is particularly interested in rare, antiquarian, first edition, signed and illustrated books, as well as collections relating to literature, political and economic thought, philosophy, science and natural history.
We would happily consider individual books, small groups, private collections and inherited libraries in Sydney and, where practical, elsewhere in Australia.
The easiest way to start is to contact us with a few photographs and, if available, a list of the books. We can then let you know whether the material is likely to be a good fit and whether it is worth looking at in more detail.
Depending on the collection, we may offer:
- selective purchase of individual books or groups of books
- purchase of larger collections or libraries
- collection in Sydney where appropriate
- consignment for selected higher-value or specialist books
If you have a larger collection, inherited library or deceased estate, please get in touch. For suitable collections in Sydney, we can arrange a visit to assess the books in person.
If you are unsure whether your books are suitable, it is still worth contacting us. A few photographs are often enough for an initial conversation.
Books we are particularly interested in
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Rare & antiquarian books | Older printed books, unusual editions, notable bindings and books with provenance |
| Modern & classic literature | First editions, important editions and collectible literary works |
| Signed & association copies | Signed, inscribed and presentation copies, particularly where there is notable provenance |
| Illustrated books | Artist-illustrated literature, fine illustrated editions and visually significant books |
| History of ideas | Political economy, philosophy, political thought and works associated with Printing and the Mind of Man |
| Science & Enlightenment | Scientific works, history of science, scientific method, Enlightenment works and significant pamphlets |
| Natural history | Flora, fauna, ornithology and illustrated natural-history books |
| Classic children's books | Selected early or collectible editions, including authors such as A. A. Milne and Dr Seuss |
We do not expect every book in a collection to fall into one of these categories. Collections often contain a mixture of material, and we are happy to look at the wider group where there may be books of interest.
How much do we pay?
The amount we can offer depends on the book, its edition, condition, completeness, provenance, current demand and the likely cost and time involved in selling it.
A dealer purchase price will normally be lower than the retail asking prices you may see online, because we take on the cost and risk of researching, cataloguing, photographing, storing, marketing and selling the book, as well as marketplace fees and the possibility that it may take a long time to find a buyer.
Where appropriate, we may also discuss consignment rather than an outright purchase, particularly for selected specialist or higher-value books.
While Ink & Signature Books is not currently a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (a future goal of ours), we aim to conduct our buying fairly, transparently and professionally.
Donate your books to us
We also welcome donations from people who would prefer not to sell their books. As storage space is limited, we can only accept donations where there is a reasonable quantity of material suitable for resale.
Where books are not suitable for our catalogue, we will aim to pass them on to local charities or other organisations where they may continue to be read and enjoyed.