Certain railroad books can fetch thousands of dollars.
In 2004, Christie's auction house sold an 1869 copy of Alfred E. Mathews's "Gems of Rocky Mountain Scenery, Containing Views Along and Near the Union Pacific Railroad" for $7,768. As of April 2010, ARB Books in Falls Church, Virginia, had a 13-volume set of the 19th-century "Pacific Railroad Explorations and Surveys" for sale for $17,250. While your railroad books may not fetch such exorbitant amounts, many collectors will pay good money for certain titles, especially if they are first editions, out of print or in fine or very good condition.
Instructions
1. Make a list of your books. Include the title, author, publisher, publication date and edition. Note whether the book is paperback or hardcover, and specify a condition for each book (fine/like new, very good, good, fair or poor).
2. Look up your books on book-selling websites---especially BookMine.com, the world's largest dealer of out-of-print railroad books---so you'll have a price valuation for each volume. You may not find copies in the exact condition as your books, but you'll get rough estimates of their worth. Jot down each book's estimated value and the minimum you're willing to take for it.
3. Look online for model railroad and railfan conventions. Some conventions are locally based and held monthly or annually, while others, including the Great Train Expo and the World's Greatest Hobby Tour, travel the country and may stop in your area once or twice a year. When you attend a convention, bring your list of books and several sample volumes. Ask vendors whether they may hold an interest in purchasing your books.
4. Contact Golden Spike Enterprises, which runs the annual Railroadiana Auction, and inquire about listing your books with the company. The bid-by-mail national auction features thousands of items of railroad memorabilia, including used and collectible books and maps.
5. Call local bookstores that sell used, rare and out-of-print books. These stores often buy books from the public and have certain hours when they review books for purchase. You usually can get more for your books if you accept store credit instead of cash.
6. Post your books for sale on eBay. You can post in one section, such as Antiquarian & Collectible Books or several categories, including General Nonfiction, Transportation Collectibles and Paper Collectibles. If you sell your books in lots of five or 10, rather than individually, you may be able to move them more quickly. Always include photos in your postings and list any information potential buyers should know, including whether the book has any damage to the binding or jacket, or writing inside.
