Science Fiction Collection

[Bananafish]

Hi Everyone

I am hoping for some advice really. In the 1980's I accumulated a large collection of Science Fiction books and Magazines which for the last 15 years have spent their time in my attic (due to lack of space to show them).

I am now in the process of moving and although I am sad to do so I need to sell what I have.

I could go to second hand bookshops but in the past I have find this not really to be worthwhile. Does anyone here have any ideas the best way of getting rid of such a collection?

I don't have a great deal of time as I have left it quite late and hope to be moved by the end of October.

The collection needs to be re-documented, but I have for example 70 issues of Isaac Asimov's magazine 1977 thru to 1988 (mostly 1982 and before)

I also have many collectible items such as Ace doubles, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Analog etc. Plus 100's (actually probably over 1000) standard SF books from Aldiss to Zelazny, some old, some not so old.

If I went the e-bay route I guess I would be selling them individually and that would just take far to long.

So has anyone here got any ideas - or is this the wring place to be asking?

thanks in advance

Simon

[iansales]

You could try offering them to an independent SF/F bookseller, such as Andy Richards at http://coldtonnage.co.uk/ or Brian Ameringen at http://www.porcupine.demon.co.uk/

Or you could try contacting Andy Sawyer at the Science Fiction Foundation Collection (http://www.liv.ac.uk/~asawyer/sffchome.html) If you have any rare titles, they might be interested.

[Bananafish]

Thanks Ian. Exactly the sort of info I was looking for.

I have to admit I am a little out of touch with who the main players are these days.

I have spent the day recataloguing some of them. It is all very nostalgic and will be a shame to see them go.

[williamjm]

Originally Posted by Bananafish

If I went the e-bay route I guess I would be selling them individually and that would just take far to long.

I have seen people e-baying groups of books to be sold together, although I guess selling them individually might be more profitable (on the other hand, you only have to pay listing fees/postage once if you sell the books together).

[Bananafish]

Thanks for the idea William.

I have considered the e-bay route. I felt that the collector is unlikely to buy in bulk as they would just prefer to buy those magazines missing from their list. And if I did sell say 500 books, I would hate to think what postage might be.

[bryanspellman]

I think you might get some hits here if you list some of the tomes you have............

[Bananafish]

Originally Posted by bryanspellman

I think you might get some hits here if you list some of the tomes you have............

am I allowed to do that? I dont want to break any rules..

[Ian Whates]

Hi Bananafish,

Must admit that I might be interested in taking the collection, depending on what you were after for it, and there must be others on the forum who'd be interested. As for transport, if you're in Suffolk I could probably collect. I'm pretty new to the forum myself and have no idea how they would view listing etc.

Like you, I wouldn't want to do anything that breaks any rules or offends the moderators. Good luck, whatever you end up doing.

[Bananafish]

It is breaking rules to post a list of for sale items, and I totally accept that.

If anyone would like a list of the items I have in the collection, please email me (simon at bananafish.org.uk) and I will send it to you. As it is likely I will sell the list to a dealer (or dealers) then prices will be rock bottom. I also have over 1000 SF and Fantasy books to go, but they will probably end up in the local 2nd hand book shop.

Moderators - if the above post breaks any forum rules, then I apologise and accept that the post may be deleted. I did email one of you asking permisson as to whether I could suggest people get in touch with me by email, and I have to admit I have yet to receive an answer to that, so I do accept that I may be a little presumptious by doing this. Please again accept my apology if I am out of order.

All the best
Simon