Selling guide
Selling is never an easy decision.
We're here to help.
We regularly buy collections of Folio Society books. If you have a collection of Folio Society books, please read the below guidance and get in touch with us for a quote.
Pictures
Please arrange the books on a shelf or flat surface and take a picture of the spines with the titles clearly readable. If it is a large collection, take pictures of them in groups of about 10/15. Once we have identified all the books, we will send a full quote—usually within 24 hours.
Condition
We need to know the condition of the books you are selling in order to provide an accurate quote. How much condition affects a book's price varies from title-to-title, and we consider each book individually.
Please note that if we receive the books with major defects that were not previously highlighted, this can result in a reduction to the quote—or rarely, a return of the books.
Defects
Please identify and highlight any major defects to the books, especially to the slipcases, spines or page. By defects we mean:
Smell - Any musty smell caused by humidity or smell of smoke
Foxing - Yellow or brown spots caused by storage in a humid environment. This can manifest on the page edges or inside the slipcase
Inscriptions - Any written notes inside the pages of the book
Ex-Library Book Plates - Stickers or stamps or marks indicating the book as part of an old library collection
Sun Damage - Usually manifests as fading to the slipcase or book spines
Stains or Tears - Marks, tears, dents or scratches to the slipcase, book covers or the pages themselves
Additional information
The more we know about your collection, the more accurate our quote will be to your final payment. A rough idea as to the general condition of your books should be enough, e.g. 'like new' or 'a bit worn'.
Getting your books to us
Sending your collection to us depends on how far you are from our Surbiton office in South West London.
Local
If the books are not too far from Surbiton, we might be able to arrange a time to come and pick up the books.
We have previously picked up collections across London, and as far out as Kent. However, this depends on the size of the collection and is done on a case-by-case basis—so please get in touch.
Alternatively, we can arrange a timeslot for you to deliver the books to us yourself, and to take a look around our collection at The Vault while you're here.
(Warning: you may end up with more books than you arrived with!)
Rest of the UK
Most of our customers are not local, with some being based internationally.
For customers not used to posting parcels with couriers, we can help guide you every step of the way. Common questions include:
Which courier do I use?
How should I package my books properly?
How many parcels do I need for my collection?
When reaching out for a quote, let us know of any concerns and we can offer advice when we get back to you.
