I've ended up with boxes of these on occasion while buying large lots of books. Several years ago I took a bunch to the dump. Then I ended up with more and decided to lot them up and really did well with them. Sold them all that way and averaged probably $3 a piece. It does work and seems more popular now then it did 10 years ago. Good Info!!

As someone that bought some reader's digest condensed books. I can confirm that I mainly bought because I liked the covers but now I think I should actually read them. Great video by the way. Greetings from Angola

I saw some at the markets - she cut out the center and put succulents in them. The amount of people that got angry that she'd ruined a book was crazy. She reminded people that she saved them from the dump! She sold a lot also so good on her :)

Awesome advice as always. Great video.

that was a great tutorial, very informative. Thank you!

Good informational video! Thank you.

I recently purchased volume IX from 1956. What surprised me was the quality of paper and binding. After all these years, the book was perfectly preserved. All the books had beautiful illustrations and introductions. It is really lavishly made. There is also a paper insert which gives a crisp summary of each of these books. I think in the later years, the quality declined. I guess If you really like a book, you will be happy to find its condensation complete with nice illustrations.

I have a lot of them now, trying to find customers who would want them from the 1950's, 60's, 70's,80's

Nice video... I have some of these books for sale. 1st editions , printed in great Britain. Will be posting it for sale.

Was worried because I pass these all the time at thrift stores thank god you said 1.99 is not worth it lol AWESOME VIDEO!!!

@curatorofthelost

3 жыл бұрын

Definitely do not pay more than 0.25 each!

I'm trying to find a story I read in one of these books a long time ago. It was about the Biafra conflict and a man was trying to drive to Umuahia to get aid for his starving village. There was an Australian DC-3 pilot too and that's all I remember. The condensed book was published in the early 70's.

@curatorofthelost

2 жыл бұрын

Maybe The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth?

I just inherited 210 copies. Some from every year 1951-2000.

@curatorofthelost

Жыл бұрын

The 50s and 60s ones should sell pretty good!

Hi Shane, I’m really enjoying your videos! Great advice and positive personality! Do you ever link the boxes you use for shipping? I’ve searched Amazon and can’t find the 10x8x3. Keep the inspiration coming! Btw- I listed my first book yesterday and it sold early this morning. Thank you so much.

@curatorofthelost

3 жыл бұрын

Congrats on your first sell! AWESOME! I will look for a sales link, but I know the last couple of times I bought off of ebay. Do a search on "10x8x3 corrugated". Buy in lots of 100 to get the best price. One vendor with Ecoswift currently has 100 for 48.99 with free shipping. So that is ~0.49 per box. Prices have gone up in recent months but that is still decent. Prices for less than 100 are way too high. Keep up the treasure hunts!

@ScotlandYarn

3 жыл бұрын

@@curatorofthelost Thanks for the reply, I will search for the Ecoswift boxes.

My grandma just passed and has a bunch of these. Many of hers still have the paper covers. If I choose to sell, should I advertise them with or without the paper covers? (I haven't checked the years, but I would imagine they're from the earlier years through the Eighties.) Thanks for whatever help you can provide. (Btw, as a decorator and collector, I found your video very interesting.) Thanks!)

@curatorofthelost

2 жыл бұрын

I would take pics with and without to let folks know they are available. List as DJs included. Decorative applications may not care but they could like them and you may find a collector that wants the old ones complete with DJ.

@aliciastrickland6630

2 жыл бұрын

@@curatorofthelost Thanks so much for your prompt reply! I didn't expect to hear back so soon (if at all). Really appreciate the tip (especially since I just uncovered ANOTHER box!).

If you have all 39 books, with dust covers, what do you think is a fair price? Some are worn out and tattered. Thank you.

ok great info but i still have at least 50 still in paper cover and in the orig shipping box so take them out and pull the covers?

@curatorofthelost

2 жыл бұрын

If the are in the original boxes and covers- check comps. You may be better off selling that way vs as a decorative set. Could tap a collector wanting a year that way and get better price. If original box is open, you can take pics with and without covers but sell as complete original set.

I have a full set with red covers-not decorative. Would you suggest selling them in smaller groupings, or as the full set.

@curatorofthelost

2 жыл бұрын

If this is the older, 50's style reddish leather, I would sell them in lots of 4, by the year. It depends how many are in your full set. I think people prefer them in small groupings vs. a whole shelf of them- just an accent vs. a collection. Just my experienced based opinion of course. Good luck!

I get a lot of these books donated to our library. What do you do about the DJ's? I didn't see any on your books.

@curatorofthelost

11 ай бұрын

A lot of people use these for decoration vs reading and collecting. DJs are great for the collector but the decoration crowd doesn’t seem to care. They want the color of the edge. Or pattern of the old 60s copies.

Does it make any difference if the books have the original dust jacket?

@curatorofthelost

Жыл бұрын

I find mostly not because most people are using these for decorating and the DJs are not as pretty as the book spine.

Is the cost of shipping prohibitive to selling these? I have come across tons of them at a relatives house, so I wouldn’t have any money invested in them, but I just have a hard time believing people will pay what shipping costs these days for decoration or crafts. Any advice on the least expensive way to ship them?

@curatorofthelost

2 жыл бұрын

Definitely have to go media mail via USPS. It is not too bad on these, especially in lots of 5 or 6. People will pay it. They will not be huge profit but the ones from the 50s and 60s still sell good.

Huh? Searched "Readers Digest Condensed Books" 1956 ---- 87 listed vs. 13 sold in past 90 days. Even if the early volumes sell well in lots, by the time this video circulates and R.D. Condensed Books makes it onto a couple of BOLO lists, even that slim hope will fade. Not filling my limited storage with such a slow mover. Usually, I agree with you. On this one, we can disagree.

@curatorofthelost

3 жыл бұрын

No worries- I appreciate the feedback and comments. Perspective and experience is good for our whole book selling community. Your point of a potential slow mover is valid. Combined with size and weight with storage, this is not for everyone, but can be a good sell for some folks- especially if you can distinguish with a good color combo and attractive list photo. Also, I would never pay more than 0.25 each for any of these. Interestingly, your stats on the RD 1956 listed vs. sold (6.7:1) are close to the total RD condensed book list/sell ratio (4521/564= ~8:1). Amazing how many of those are single book offers too.