As I've explored what sells on eBay and what just turns into clutter to be pushed around, there are some items that have proven to be solid bets time after time.  Of course, that is mostly what I'm writing this blog about nowadays I guess. 


One of the solid performers is leather bound books.  The old ones.  Antique leather bound books are an almost automatic sale if they are in half decent shape.

I've always loved to read since I was a little kid.  I think it is a wonderful thing that there is still a very solid core of people out there who prefer to do their reading away from a lit up screen.  Collecting books may actually be gaining popularity.  Perhaps people are looking ahead and imagining a day when simple words written on paper will be obsolete.  After all, you wouldn't want to kill a tree if you could avoid it, right?  I hope that isn't where things are headed though.

Of course, collecting leather bound books is not just about the literature.  The books are so handsome that they are actually used as part of the decorating scheme.  The dark, rich look of real leather fits so well with what I imagine when I think of a library in someone's home.  The image of a silver haired man with a smoking jacket, a pipe and a fireplace all sort of go with the image too, but that might just be my overactive imagination at work.

Leather books are purchased with regularity on eBay and many of the people doing the buying are extremely knowledgeable about the subject of books.  As I was doing some research on leather bound books, I was led to websites and videos devoted to the skilled practice of bookbinding.  It truly is an art when done correctly and bookbinding required years of apprenticeship in earlier days.  It is quickly becoming a lost art.

If you are a seller, do your best to learn about what you are listing and give as many details as possible about the book, but be honest.  I learned quickly that the art of bookbinding and the collecting of books is way bigger than I ever dared imagine.  I found some great general bookbinding information here, but there was no way I was going to try to bluff my way through listing an antique book.

Tell all that you can ascertain from the information at the beginning of the book and take more photos than you think you will need.  Give potential book buyers several closeups from different angles and describe anything on the inside of the book that they might not be able to see in your photos.  Certainly, if there is any type of mildew smell, you MUST mention it.  That is a deciding factor for many people.  Someone skilled in book restoration may be interested in such a book, but in general, no one is going to want to introduce a mildewed book to their collection.

If you are a potential buyer, do not assume that everything that you cannot see in the auction photos is in good shape.  Ask questions and request details.  Leather bound books can be very expensive depending on the title, edition, year of production and a host of other factors.  Get clear on every detail that you can.

I like to include relevant videos with my posts whenever possible.  This was a bit more challenging for this topic than I expected.  What I settled on was this excellent video devoted to binding books.  Not leather bound books, they are a true specialty area.  The video is well done and interesting none the less.