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EIGHT Things That Might Mean Your eBay Item is Valuable

These are a few of many reasons why one item may be worth nothing while a similar item is virtually priceless.  Let us use books as our example:

*  Is it dated?  Dated items are usually provenance proved, not subject to guesswork.  But, consider: is it original or a reproduction or reprint?  Be careful, if it’s dated, give the date, but don’t testify to age.  For example, a book dated 1900 may indeed have been printed that year, and be 105 years old, or it could be a modern reprint.  If you’re unsure you could say: ‘Dated 1900, in good condition’, but not ‘Dated 1900.  A wonderful example at 105 years old’.  Play it safe and on all your listings add: ‘All items described to the best of our knowledge and ability’.  A satisfaction or money back guarantee also protects you against problems of innocently mis-describing items.

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Recommended Reading.  Avril Harper's

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*  Is there a signature?  Did this otherwise ordinary item have a famous owner to increase its value? Is the signature genuine?  Or a forgery?  Is the signature original or printed into the book?  If the signature is original, is it the hand of the famous person or an agent charged with signing on their behalf?

*  Is it in good condition?  Do you understand what ‘good condition’ means for this particular item?  Many collectibles, including books, have industry recognised grading standards to which you should also conform. 

* Is it rare?  Or is it something quite common but new to you?  What does rare really mean?  Unless you are sure, describe it as ‘unusual’ or ‘uncommon’, not rare. 

* It is antique?  So many things described as antique are simply old, less than one hundred years to which the word antique really applies.  So say ‘old’ or ‘vintage’, not ‘antique’, unless you’re sure of that 100 year rule.

* Was the item designed for heavy use, such as a reference book  which might be used daily and be unlikely to survive the decades intact?   Was the item ephemeral, of limited shelf life, such as books to accompany plays and operas, which were typically used or given away in hours or days?  If the item has survived decades, intact, it could be valuable, maybe very valuable. 

*  Does the item have ‘double appeal’?  Might it attract bids from two or more different eBay categories and consequently multiple bids, such as a book on a popular theme, but a collectible author, with a famous previous owner.  To illustrate and sorry this is not a book-related example, a plate I bought at the auction of Dame Catherine Cookson’s effects presented four collecting themes: as a plate in its own right (very popular collecting area), famous owner (well-known novelist), Ringtons design (advertising), area of manufacture (Newcastle-on-Tyne).  Oh yes, it was also blue and white, another major collecting interest.

*  Is the price too low for comfort?  Is it a fake or reproduction?  Broken?  Even worse, stolen?  Check items thoroughly, ask for proof of previous ownership, buy from reputable sellers only, avoid itinerant sellers at flea markets and boot sales unless they provide receipts and contact details.  Most boot sale and flea market sellers are very genuine and a majority of organisers now provide written details of traders at the event.  Bear in mind that stolen items belong to their original owner, not the innocent subsequent buyer.