October 18, 2023
As book-sharing communities on platforms like TikTok and Instagram become increasingly popular, it’s official: Reading is cool again (even though we book nerds know reading never truly went out of style). Social media has become a tool to connect with fellow readers and share new books to read. The BookTok and Bookstagram social media communities have boosted authors like Colleen Hoover and Rebecca Yarros to the top of the best sellers lists and sold-out bookstores worldwide.
While contemporary authors attract a new generation of book lovers, book collectors still seek classics like “Pride and Prejudice” and “The Great Gatsby.” HiBid.com remains a top platform to find new and used books for your shelves ranging from vintage books to modern books.
As we celebrate National Book Month this October, browse HiBid’s book auctions to find new books to add to your collection.
Rare & First Edition Books
Some of the most valuable additions to a collection, first edition books and rare manuscripts can enliven any library. The initial printings of a book often feature unique details that distinguish them from subsequent editions. For antiquarians, book lovers, and anyone else collecting them, first-edition books often continue to rise in value.
The market for rare books has come back to life as new generations of book lovers enter the market. A pair of books by Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle recently broke individual sales records for the authors at auction. Both books sold from the collection of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. The rare first edition of Christie’s “The Thirteen Problems” sold for $63,968. The inscribed first edition of Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles” broke the author’s auction record with a $226,555 sale.
Book Collections
Watts isn’t the only antiquarian with an impressive library. Late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld built a collection of over 300,000 books. Star Wars director George Lucas has also totaled over 27,000 books in his personal library.
Many bibliophiles build book collections around specific themes, genres, or authors. Whether it’s an assortment of classic literature or vintage whodunits, themed book collections reflect a collector’s passion for a specific genre or topic.
Religious Books
Several religious texts top the list of the most valuable books of all time. The Codex Sassoon, a 9th-century Hebrew Bible, sold at auction for $38.1 million. The sale marks the highest price tag for a book sold at auction. The Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints paid $35 million for an early, hand-written printer’s copy of the Book of Mormon.
While many early religious texts come with a hefty price tag, collectors can still find affordable sacred books. Religious books hold profound significance for collectors and provide insight into the spiritual history of different religious communities.
Cookbooks
Although previously an overlooked genre among collectors, antique cookbooks are now having their day in the book-collecting world. Cookbooks in excellent condition can fetch high prices at auction. Early cookbooks from the 1700s and 1800s attract collectors as they catered to kitchens before electricity and modern technology. Most of these vintage cookbooks in good condition sell for four figures at literary auctions.
The American cookbook market exploded in the 1950s and 1960s with countless cookbooks rolling off the presses. Anyone interested in starting a cookbook collection can easily target these decades for affordable, collectible cookbooks. Famous first-edition cookbooks from Julia Child or the Betty Crocker brand typically bring in high prices at auction.
Children’s Books
The whimsical illustrations and timeless tales in children’s books make them a cheerful genre for book collectors. Children’s books also bring back nostalgia that transports us back to our childhood adventures and stories.
Antique books such as first editions by Eric Carle or Roald Dahl make excellent investments for collectors. A first edition of Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” can sell for over $10,000 at auction. A copy of Dahl’s famous “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” can fetch an auction value over $15,000.
Fiction Books
As one of the largest categories in literature, there are dozens of genres and subgenres to explore in the world of fiction. Many rare fiction books make a great addition to a curated collection, but book lovers enjoy fiction for their personal libraries.
Science fiction and fantasy books transport readers into time periods and worlds much different from our own. Science fiction authors like George Orwell and Ray Bradbury often explore the consequences of technological and scientific advancements. Fantasy authors often explore magical realism and supernatural elements.
Thrillers and horror intrigue readers with the built suspense and shock. The thriller genre has grown in popularity with contemporary readers. Popular thrillers include “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson. Stephen King, the “King of Horror,” has published over 60 novels since 1974.
Within the contemporary fiction genre, collectors seek books with original indie covers before authors moved to larger publishing houses. Many authors also release exclusive editions and signed copies of their popular books with large booksellers.
Nonfiction Books
Nonfiction covers a vast range of literature and styles. Nonfiction books aim to inform and educate while providing historical perspectives. Collectors will find endless critically acclaimed books within the world of nonfiction.
Biographies and autobiographies make up a large section of the nonfiction genre. These subgenres allow readers to immerse themselves in the lives and experiences of celebrities, historical figures, activists, and authors. Memoirs allow authors to reflect on specific moments or periods in their lives.
Historical nonfiction draws in readers with its true accounts of past events and eras. These books often provide extensive research that offers new understandings of the past. Popular events explored include World War II, the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, and the tumultuous decade of the 1960s.
Many argue Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” launched the true crime genre that has grown in popularity over the years. Other popular true crime books include “The Trial of Lizzie Borden” and “The Devil in the White City.”
Where To Find Book Auctions On HiBid.com
There are several ways to browse and search for auctions and individual lots at HiBid.com. You can browse all auctions, only see auctions open for bidding, or choose the auction style. Auction styles available on HiBid include live, timed, or auctions that allow for absentee bidding.
To find auctions based on location, location filters make it easier to find auctions within your desired radius. You can also browse auctions by state.
Ways To Celebrate National Book Month
This October, we honor National Book Month as a time to celebrate reading, writing, and literature. The month provides an opportunity to support authors and encourage reading. If you’re looking for ways to celebrate National Book Month, you can:
Read a book. The easiest way to celebrate the month is to crack open a book and start reading. Whether it’s a classic like “Jane Eyre,” or a contemporary bestseller like a volume from the “Harry Potter” series, enjoy some quiet time with a good book.
Join a book club. Take your new read a step further and join a book club. Book clubs provide opportunities to connect with fellow readers and discuss literature.
Post your latest read on social media. Share the love for reading with a post on social media. Posting can encourage others to pick up a new book or reread a favorite novel.
Add to your library. Thousands of books are waiting for you on HiBid.com. Browse first editions, fiction books, and book collections to find the perfect addition to your shelves.
Sell Books On HiBid.com
If you want to pare down your collection, online auctions offer one of the best and most time-tested ways of selling and marketing books, magazines, journals, and other reading materials. There’s a good reason why this method has been around since the dawn of commerce, and it’s useful for everything under the sun. Start selling books on HiBid.com today.