YOUR forgotten children’s books gathering dust on the shelf could actually be worth up to £1,000 online.
While many of us may have ditched our paperbacks in favour of our Kindle or tablet, others are on the hunt for physical copies of the classics.
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Books sold at a specialist auction can be bought for thousands of pounds but you can still fetch a small fortune by flogging them on eBay.
We’ve have a look online to find out how much seven of the most popular children’s books sell for online and some of them are worth a small fortune.
The rarer the novel and the better the condition they’re in makes them even more valuable to collectors so if any of your tattered books are missing pages then this probably isn’t the guide for you.
From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to a Beatrix Potter classic, these are the kids’ books that are worth the most online.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – £1,000
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Lewis Carroll’s classic novel is still a hit with collectors – but only if it’s a first edition. This particular copy was published in 1927 making it almost 100 years old.
The seller was honest about the damage on the spine and marks on the cover but the pages are all in tact and it was in a reasonably good condition.
And it proved popular with the sale attracting 62 bids from fans and eventually sold for £1,000. Not bad for a hand-me-down.
Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne – £366
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This particular copy was one of the first to be printed in 1926 and is illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard.
The seller pointed out that there were a few small bubbles to the front right hand side and some small age related marks to the back but otherwise it was in a good condition.
Fourteen bids later, and it sold for £366 in April this year.
What should you do if you have a valuable book?
IF you think you’ve got a book that’s worth a bit extra then you should start by doing your research
Find out how much your book is worth to a collector by checking the same or similar books under “sold listings” on eBay.
Compare your book to other higher selling auctions and ask yourself if it’s in a similar condition? Is is authentic? Does it have its original cover?
Check if it’s a first edition which could instantly push up the value. It will tell you on the first or second page on the inside cover.
If it’s in mint condition then it might be worth selling it through an auction house or directly to a collectibles website. Auctioneers such as Sotheby’s, Lyon & Turnbull and Bonhams have specialists you can talk to.
If it’s not in mint condition, it’s probably worth sticking it on eBay for a moderate sum.
But in both cases check for any fees involved and find out what percentage of any sale an auctioneer may take.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle – £281
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This rare, first edition version of Mr Conan Doyle’s novel was published in 1894 making it 125 years old.
The seller admitted they had the book retouched slightly, to keep it from damaging further, such as renewing the letters on the spine.
It sold for £281 online after 43 bidders tried to stake their claim.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien – £250
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These tattered and well-loved Lord of the Rings books recently sold online for £249.44 after a 21-bid bidding war.
The seller highlighted all of the obvious defects, including the “poor” quality dust jackets and “loose binding”.
The set included J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
All of the proceeds were said to have been donated to the British Heart Foundation, which may have bumped up the price.
Harry Potter complete box set by J.K. Rowling – £177
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You may remember a while back when someone sold a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for a whopping £68,000.
It was a first edition hardback, and unfortunately, they’re pretty rare so it’s unlikely that the copy you have at home is as valuable.
Even so, this collection of all seven Harry Potter books recently sold on eBay for £176.88.
They’re in quite good condition even though they have been read, which makes them more valuable to sellers.
Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling – £113
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You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Jungle Book was the more collectable of his novels but it turns out the lesser known Rewards and Fairies is worth more.
A copy published in 1910 recently sold for £113 online – £18 more than the Jungle Book which sold for £91.
The cover was marked from age but the pages were still readable, making it more valuable to a buyer.
Beatrix Potter book set – £51
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This 23 book set features stories about our favourite Beatrix Potter characters, including Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddleduck.
The books were published in 1995 and come in their own made-to-fit book shelf.
Thirteen buyers bid on the books and they eventually sold for £51.
Okay, so they don’t sell as well as the Peter Rabbit 50p coin – which is worth up to £840 – but it’s not bad if you’re looking to make some extra cash.
It’s not just your old books that could be worth a lot online either. My Little Pony, Barbie and Game Boy toys are selling for up to £1,200 on eBay.
If you’re a Lego fan, you’ll want to check out our guide to the most valuable Lego sets right now.
Meanwhile, these are some unwanted items around your home that could be worth hundreds if you sold them.
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