Help with Book Collection i need to sell

[webmonkeyuk]

I had a uncle who unfortunately passed away quite suddenly last year and he was a massive train/transport enthusiast and as a result his collection was left to me which were Steam train and general train history related books but there are also a few on foreign trains and also bits and bobs about trams and buses. I have no interest in them really so id rather they go to somewhere who would have a use of them. His collection totalled some 1400+ books on these subjects so it is quite alot and im struggling to store them in my garage and most are at my Grandparents house so id rather them be sold to someone/people who would have more enjoyment with them.

Ive managed to sell a few via ebay over the year but its a real slow process, im located in the TS20 area (Teesside) and im not really into rail/transport so if anyone could recommend some shops or establishments or ideas on how to get rid of the collection in one go id be grateful as its a shame to just throw these books out as most are in real good condition and he spent a lifetime collecting these.

Thanks for your time
Jonathan

 

[etr221]

I'm sure this has come up before...
My sympathy - both for the loss of your uncle, and being dumped with them.
Depending on your thoughts as to what you want something for them (how much? you'll get more selling stuff direct, at the cost of effort, a dealer wants to make a profit) or would just be happy for them to go
1) there are various specialist dealers (Robert Humm is perhaps the best known) ... look in Railway Magazine for adverts, and make your choice.
2) if your uncle was involved with any enthusiast or preservation group, contact them for advice - they may be prepared to deal with them, for some arrangement or other.
3) preservation operations are always after donations, contact your local ones (North York Moors Railway, Friends of the National Railway Museum or ???)
4) otherwise any local group, or national one with a local presence (eg RCTS (www.rcts.org.uk) or SLS (www.stephensonloco.org.uk) may well be able to advise

 

[Peter C]

I would ditto what @etr221 has said. Heritage railways would make quite a bit from over 1000 books, and some of them need as much money as they can get. I would reccomend something like the NYMR.

-Peter

 

[plarailfan]

When I got made redundant a few years ago I had a market stall at Huddersfield market. I found my surplus railway books often attracted little interest and to my dismay, many of them only sold for a £1 or two, each !
Vectis, at middlesborough might be interested in running the books through one of their toy and model auctions, perhaps in boxes of around twenty or so per box and grouped in subjects - preserved, steam, Diesel, continental, etc (they will however, charge some fees, or commission I think it's called, & VAT for their efforts) https://www.vectis.co.uk/auction-dates-for-upcoming-vectis-auctions

 

[swanhill41]

Jonathan….I have read your posting with interest.
Railway books contrary to what most enthusiasts think,do not sell!
I have a vested interest in that statement ….I have sold rail books online over the last 12 years or so,and with contacts have gained an overview of this marketplace.
There is a rule of thumb that pre 2000 published books are on the whole not the best of sellers...Why?...Between 1970 and 2000 publishers such as Alan Sutton,Ian Allan and David &Charles churned out a large number of titles and in most cases to a formula,96 pages long and illustrated such as Ian Allan....Something like 80% of titles from those sort of publishers are in effect non sellers.
After 2000 IA etc ,have removed themselves from the market and in fact now some of the publishers inc IA have been bought out or ceased trading.
The reason I mention this is that I suspect that your uncles books probably are in the majority those in question...If not,and he has a lot of OPC's ,Wild Swan,Irwell,LIGHTMOOR then there will be some value there.
Heritage Railways can and are choosy as two I know will refuse books if in poor condition or its a lot of what are unsaleable books ie books they already have large number of!
At the end of the day,its quality that matters ,excellent condition,and great titles.
By the way have messaged you.
PS Above irrelevant to you,if you have already moved books on.