Selling Vintage Books as a Side Business
Selling vintage books is a fun way to make extra income online.
You can sell any second-hand goods online, but it's best to choose something that interests you, whether that is books, fashion, comics, or Pokémon cards.
If you want to turn this into a real business, you need to treat it like one. This means spending time setting up your online shop, taking high-quality photographs, carefully posting orders, and replying to questions.
~~~
I make taking images simple and professional by using a photography light box and Adobe Express to make a clear white background. You can find examples on my eBay shop. While you might use props and colour backdrops.
~~~
One problem with books, compared to other items, is that they have varying conditions. You need to list all faults and provide information on the publisher. The free download below can help you with how to label rare books.
Liverpool Book Market, 2025
1. Local Markets
Although this blog post will look at Selling Vintage Books online, it is worth mentioning markets. Selling at markets, such as a craft fair or a specialist market, can make a profit.
I make anywhere from £50 to £300 a day from a local market.
Markets are great for building up your business. You can hand out business cards with links to your website and social media profiles. You can also use markets for collecting email subscribers and talking to customers face to face.
The trouble with selling at a market is that it is exhausting, often long days lifting and carrying stock, then interacting with the public.
They work best if you have a car and some help. You could try a few local markets to see how it works for you.
~~~
2. Online Websites
Retail is now predominantly online. Given that you probably have another full-time job, it makes sense to dedicate time to an online business. Unless you already have a large online following, you should consider using a retail platform.
Below are three major websites for selling vintage books. The platform you choose depends on your customers and the type of stock you have. All of these websites take 10 – 20% commission per sale.
Etsy
To start, if you are selling vintage books, Etsy is a great platform. The type of books that sell well on this site are gift books and personalised items.
Even though Etsy is more of a craft website, there is a growing book community. You can search Etsy to see what type of books sell well and if this applies to your stock.
Best for –
Gift Books
Stylish Books
Handmade books
eBay
If you’re looking for a large audience eBay is the biggest re-sale website. It’s best for general stock, large online shops and international shipping. You can also use both buy now and auctions to encourage sales.
Like all these websites, eBay takes a profit cut per sale, but it is a great way to start your book-selling career.
Best for -
Auctions
General Stock
International Sales
Abe Books
Another website to look into is Abe Books, a website dedicated to only selling second hand books. They have a smaller audience than the others but seem to do well for specialist rare book sellers and book shops with large stock.
Best for -
Rare Books
Book Shops
Specialist Books
Instagram Post, @sixbookshop
3. Social Media
If you’re selling vintage books, you can also prioritise social media. For example, my Instagram page only has a small number of followers, but I have sold many books directly to people after posting online.
You can also tag your Instagram stories with a link to your online shop. Instagram is a great platform for books as it’s visual, but you can also sell on any social media platform.
Some sellers also do very well with TikTok and videos. It will take time to figure out your creative style online (I’m still experimenting with my business brand), but it’s worth putting in the effort. So, take it from me, social media posts do lead to sales.
4. Auctions
Another way to sell vintage books online directly through auction houses. This is a good idea when you have a more expensive or specialist book. Auctions might take between 10 – 20% commission but they do provide a unique audience.
I have previously sold books to auctions and had surprisingly high profits. Better still, these auctions will provide valuations for free. So, I do recommend auctions if you find a book that you believe has a high value (£300 plus).
5. Business Website
Lastly, you should eventually build up your business to run from a personal business website. Etsy and eBay are great to begin with as they provide an instant audience, however they do take a large commission per sale.
Having a website will take a significantly lower commission and provide you with full control over your orders. If you are selling vintage books through social media it makes sense to direct people to your website as you can make the most profit.
This blog post is only an introduction to selling vintage books online. However, I am still adding to my website blog and learning new skills every week.
I post regularly about my new book business on Instagram @sixbookshop.
Where to Sell Rare Books Online For Profit
Where to sell rare books for profit?
Perhaps you are a rare book seller, or simply have a book you'd like to sell. Books have the potential to generate significant profits.
However, not all books are equal. The value of your book depends on the condition, rarity, and its current market demand.
Also, whoever you sell to, whether it's a bookshop or an online marketplace, they will take a percentage. So, make sure you research and understand what to expect from your book before you sell.
Below, I will break down all the options available when selling rare books. I have also created a Modern First Edition Price Guide.
~~~
Sell Rare Books Online
The first step in selling a rare book is to review the competition online. You can do this by typing the book’s title into Google or using Google Lens. Keep in mind that the edition and condition of your book will play a major role in the book's value.
Other factors include whether your book has a dust jacket and complete pages (especially when the book has illustrated plates). I look into how the value of a book changes depending on the edition in my Harry Potter Price Guide.
Therefore, it's a good idea to get a range of prices and opinions if you're unsure of your book's value. Let’s look at the options you have when selling rare books.
I sold to Peter Harringtons 2026
1. Online
The two major websites for selling rare books are eBay and Abe Books. You can search for your rare book on these websites. Make sure you have the correct edition, and check its condition when comparing price ranges .
Selling online is likely the fastest way to sell rare books, but websites take a 15% - 20% commission. To sell, you will need to set up an account and wait for the sale to happen, which depends on the book's demand.
I have found that eBay, although it adds sales tax, is a fast way to sell books online. I can expect daily sales on my eBay shop even as a new seller.
If your rare book is worth more than a few hundred dollars, consider exploring other, more competitive selling options.
2. Auctions
There are auctions in every city and region that can help value and sell your book. They will likely value your book lower than its worth to encourage buyers. These valuations are free (I have never had to pay for a book valuation). In addition, you can place a reserve price.
In the UK, there are big auctions such as Forum, Sotheby's and Dominic Winter. You can also sell to independent auctions such as Quire Auctions.
These auctions will likely take a percentage of the total sale between 10% - 20%. But by placing it in an auction, this can encourage competition between buyers.
You will have to weigh up the risk of selling your book at an auction.
3. Rare Book Shops
If you don’t want to risk an auction, you can sell your books directly to bookshops. For less expensive books, a regular local bookshop might buy your book.
For more expensive books, you can contact rare book specialist shops such as Peter Harringtons or Mag Bros. These shops have online forms where you can enter your book's details and attach photos for a valuation.
They will send you a direct payment, although, of course, the price they offer will be less than what they will sell for. For example, I’m currently trying to sell a first edition Sherlock Holmes worth at least £1,400, but my offers have averaged £700.
What the bookshops will offer will depend on the current demand for the book
4. Rare Book Sellers
As well as shops, you also have the option to sell directly to rare book sellers. You can find professional book sellers on the PBFA or ABA websites. These are organisations and guilds for antiquarian book sellers.
The book seller will provide a value and price for your book, similar to an auction. The seller will assess your book and provide a valuation and price based on its rarity, condition, and current market demand.
The final offer will always depend on how sought-after your particular book is at the time. The transaction typically involves payment directly from the dealer.
5. Selling Plan
So, now you know where to sell rare books online. However, you don’t need to choose just one option. What I would do is review all avenues before selling.
First, I would do an online search to investigate the competition. Then I would send the book for valuation to an auction, a bookshop, and a bookseller (you can do all of this online). Once you have an idea of the value and demand for your book, you can choose the best option.
This thorough approach ensures you'll maximise your profit.
~~~
If I have missed any information on where to sell rare books, let me and others know below. I’m still a new book seller, so I wasn't sure whether I should write about selling rare books. But in the past two years, I have gathered a lot of information on the trade. The blog also provides a space to organise that information and remind myself that I do know the basics.
I’m also active on Instagram @sixbookshop.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. First Edition Guide
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows first edition price guide.
So, you have a first edition copy of Harry Potter. Congratulations!
It's a great find, but unfortunately, not every first edition of Harry Potter is highly valuable. As such, I have created this guide to help you value your books.
To begin with, it's easy to check if your book is a first edition. However, determining your book's value is more complex.
This guide covers identifying and valuing Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows first edition and offers tips on how to sell them.
You can also download the Modern First Edition Price Guide.
Let’s start with finding a first edition.
I sold these on eBay £1000
Do I Have a First Edition Harry Potter?
Since the 1970s, you can find the edition of your book with the print key (aka print line). The print key is a sequence of numbers that indicates the print run of a book. You can find these on the copyright page.
e.g. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The lowest number in the sequence represents the printing number. Therefore, if the number 1 is present in a sequence, it’s generally considered a first printing. The order of the numbers doesn’t matter; if the number 1 is present, it’s a first edition.
As such, if the lowest number is 2, it’s a second edition.
All of these print key sequences represent a first edition.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4
3 5 7 1 9 10 8 6 4 2
Better still. Some books, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows first edition, clearly state “First Edition” on their copyright page.
Once you know your edition number, you can determine your book’s price.
~~~
1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (£30,000)
The first edition of the first book appeared in 1997. All UK copies of Harry Potter are published by Bloomsbury.
The rarest is the original hardback edition (only 500 exist). The second rarest is the Philosopher's Stone, first softback edition (5000 paperbacks).
To tell if you have a first edition, check the print key: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. The first edition also has a mistake on page 53. In the list of school supplies that Harry receives from Hogwarts, the item 1 wand must appear twice.
It will also say on the cover, ‘a terrific read and stunning first novel’
Even with a first edition, the value will depend on the condition and whether the book was signed. As such, prices for a first edition hardback of a philosopher's stone vary from £30,000 to £60,000.
First edition, first impression, paperback issue of the first Harry Potter book will sell for £12,000 - £20,000 depending on the condition.
There is also a US version, printed in 1998, retitled to Happy Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Once again check the print line number it will also say First American edition. The American first editions sell for £5,000-£10,000.
2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (£5,000)
The next book came out in 1998. The first hardback edition (800 copies) fetches the most. JK Rowling also held numerous book tour signings for the second book. The first edition, paperback edition, had a print run of 10,000 copies.
Signed hardback deluxe and American editions can sell for over £2,000.
As you can see, the average selling price drops dramatically after the first book. When the third book came out, the books had gained popularity, more were printed, and thus their scarcity and overall value decreased.
3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (£2,000)
The initial hardcover print run was stopped mid-printing after it was discovered that 'Joanne Rowling' rather than 'J.K. Rowling' had been printed on the copyright page. As such, signed Joanne versions start at around £5,000.
First edition first printings will have the print key 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. There are only 2,500 copies of the hardback first edition, which fetch around £2,000. The deluxe editions, with green cloth, from 1999, are also collectable if they are first editions.
4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (£500)
As the books became more popular, J.K. Rowling signed fewer copies. The Goblet of Fire had a limited book tour, resulting in only a few hundred signed first editions. If you have a hardback, signed, first edition you can still fetch four figures.
As with the others, there are also limited Dulux editions. Other editions include, if the illustrator has signed a copy, buyers. After the Goblet of Fire, these signing events have become increasingly scarce, leading to even fewer signed books.
5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (£100)
Look out for first edition copies signed by JK Rowling at the midnight launch event in Edinburgh in 2003. These can still fetch four figures, but there are only a few copies available. You can also find special Dulux and illustrator-signed editions.
6 Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (£50)
By 2005, Harry Potter was a household name. JK no longer carried out book tours and signed very few copies. Once again, fine copies and signed Dulux editions can go for a few thousand. However, the book now had a print run in the millions.
7 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows First Edition (£10)
Lastly, we reach Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows first edition. Millions and millions of copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows have been published. There are Dulux signed copies that can still fetch a few thousand. However, you likely have a regular, unsigned first edition that is worth very little.
Book Value Factors
The better the condition, the higher the value. Copies without folds, tears, or dog-eared pages are more desirable. As a result, it's difficult to find softcovers in near fine condition. Signed copies that were signed during the very early book tours. Fake signatures are more common than genuine ones. You can verify authenticity through a UK appraiser, auctioneer, or a signature expert such as Adam Houston.
Special and unique editions can also value for a higher price. These include Dulux editions, signed Dulux editions, first editions, and American first editions. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, first edition or script by the Harry Potter cast.
How To Get Your Harry Potter Book Valued?
If you believe you have a Harry Potter first edition, you can get your book valued by a professional. First, there are auctions, which will value your book for free and provide an estimate of the selling range.
Some auctions will take about 20% of the overall value; others, less. Note that you can always set a reserve price.
Next, for a quick valuation and sale, you can contact antique bookshops directly, such as Peter Harringtons. Alternatively, you can contact a local book seller who can guide you on where to sell your book. As mentioned, a first-edition Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows first edition won’t fetch much.
How to Sell my Harry Potter First Edition?
Once your book is valued, you can consult a variety of sources. First, if your book is worth less than £1000, you can sell through websites such as eBay and AbeBooks. ( Keep in mind, online shops typically take a 20% cut).
For more expensive books, you can sell to antiquarian bookshops and book dealers. As well as in auctions. You can also have a few people value your book and choose the best-selling option once you have more information.
~~~
Determining the value and selling potential of your Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows first edition depends on many factors, including its condition and unique attributes such as a genuine signature.
If you need more information about your book, please email me. You can also reach out via direct message. I am regularly available on Instagram @sixbookshop.