This cache of chess books also demonstrates one of the basic principles of bookbuying:
Where two or three good books on a particular subject are found, keep your eyes open for others nearby!
These eight or nine Chess books are also currently the only ones I have listed, which tells me something else: Chess Books sell, and the right ones don't sit on your shelf for long.
Notable Chess Publishers from this lot: Thinkers Press/New in Chess/International Chess Enterprises (American Batsford Chess Library)/Cadogan Press UK/Pergamon
Also, for your benefit, here is a link to Wholesale Chess Books, which provides some nice photographs and examples of other types of chess books worth bothering with:
http://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess_books#
I am sure most experienced booksellers are familiar with this Flashpoint, but how about the newbies? Did you know that chess books are often bookselling gold, or at least bronze?
I also have been accumulating a shelf full of Chess books with relatively minimal value over the years, and will be listing them as a lot at Ebay auction in the near future. I have had luck with Chess book lots in the past. This time around, I've also got some attractive marble pawn bookends to photograph them with, and include as part of the package.
8 comments:
Thanks for the reminder. I find the more specific the title the higher the $ - though they might move slow.
Such as "variation" of xxxx defense.
I recently read a OK book about the world of chess and the politics of a small Russian province of Kalmykia. Not exactly a page turner but an interesting journey into the obsessed with chess
Richard
Thanks for the comment Richard. I concur, and originally mean to include a line or two about "The More Specific The Better" in the post, but figured this went without saying.
Yes, Latvian Gambit Defense is always better than Beginning Chess.
Small publishers with small print runs are usually better than Dover Publications.
The book you mentioned sounds interesting, what is it called?
Thanks for the tips. Knowing specific books to look for is great to have, but true success in this business comes from alot of hard work out there determining what to check and what not to. Knowing what is worthless (98% of books) is just as valuable as knowing what is "gold" (the remaing 2%).
Haha, is this the Richie Rich I think it is? You're exactly right my good fellow, being able to spot the junk is of the utmost importance. But everyone knows that you're just a scandroid anyways;)
What a great post! Haven't had any chess books for awhile, so it was good to be reminded. I did sell an attractive hard cover checkers book not long ago though -- a play by play account of the Seventh American Checker Tournament held at the Morrison Hotel in Chicago March 11-19, 1929 for the Checker Championship of America. The winner was the buyer's great-grandfather! That's the kind of thing I totally love.
Kristian,
Caro Kann Defence by Anatoly Karpov, Mikhail Podgaet
Actually found five together; have sold 3-4 just south of three figures but I think there has been some price erosion.
Richard
The full title is Caro Kann Defence: Advance Variation and Gambit System and I just discovered that I had two copies that were not listed on AZ.
I may have delisted when I sold a copy on another venue.
So, I am very glad you asked.
Richard
Excellent Richard, I am glad you were able to relist your copies.
Don't you just love finding great books in bundles?
Caro Kann looks like an excellent Batsford title.
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