What do you do with old auction catalogs?

koincollect · March 9, 2010 6:47AM

I have a bunch of them which I wanted to dispose off, but don't have the heart to throw it in recycling. What do you do?

My local library does not want these.

OchoReales · March 9, 2010 6:52AM

Run of the mill auctions or any stellar ones? That makes ALL the difference in the world (coins).

koincollect · March 9, 2010 7:00AM

These are all modern-- the last 5-7 years from a host of auction companies-- the US ones from Stacks to CNG, Baldwin's, Heritage. The US ones does have a series of Ford collection and I enjoyed perusing them once, but have no use since do not collect the series.

So in short I do not think they are worth much, but I still hate to trash these.

SaorAlba · March 9, 2010 8:18AM

I burn mine.

coinkat · March 9, 2010 8:40AM

I think they are worth holding onto for reference and at some point- they will be collected

spoon · March 9, 2010 8:50AM

I've sold a few modern ones on ebay for decent money... worth a shot, I'd say. Hard-bound ones are better, big name sales can do well, but might want to bundle less spectacular ones into multi-item lots. And remember Media Mail makes postage cheap!

Alternatives:
- post a listing in the BST (US & world)
- ask local dealers or coin clubs if they'd be interested
- try an eclectic used bookstore, some may give you cash or trade credit for them
- see if your library system has a Friends of the Library group.. the better ones have bookstores that help fund the library, or annual sales at the least and rarely turn down any donations

wybrit · March 9, 2010 8:53AM

I don't have room for them in my walk-in closet, so I recycle 'em.

Maybe I'll regret that someday, but it took us years to get out from under a big pile of stuff that was simply taking up too much space, for the reason the OP stated.

RobP · March 9, 2010 8:53AM

Do you have a full list? I am potentially interested in any with illustrated English lots, though I am unlikely to want many.

koincollect · March 9, 2010 9:03AM

Thanks for the quick replies.

I am not looking to make any money on these and just need to get them out of my place since occupying too much space.

Thanks spoon for the tip about media mail.

Please let me know if anyone wants these (but has to be in bulk)

I will possibly try to sort these by interest and then post on the BST.

RobP · March 9, 2010 9:21AM

They are collected. You can sell your coin collection and start again, but sell your library and the invaluable research tool is probably gone forever. It is much easier to acquire most coins than it is to replace some literature.

determined · March 9, 2010 9:32AM

For catalogs that

- have good write-ups on a collection or a coin type.
- whose lots are not found pictured online.
- are not collectable.

I make PDFs of any pages I want to save and then recycle the catalogs. I have way too many catalogs, journals, magazines etc., to save them all. I've saved a lot of room on my shelves by converting articles into PDFs.

cacheman · March 9, 2010 9:33AM

recycle them.

If there is a large quantity of what I collect then I keep them as long as I end up with a PR list. Without the PR they're a boat anchor. Saving catalogs in the event that you might collect something in the future isn't very bright unless you have a warehouse to save them. Best bet, keep an excel spreadsheet with auction house, auction number and catalog contents for future purchase if you need one down the road.

Aegis3 · March 9, 2010 10:26AM

I keep mine on shelves, in boxes, and in piles.
In piles on shelves, and in boxes on shelves.
In piles in boxes, and in piles of boxes.
In piles of boxes on shelves.
In boxes of piles on shelves.

I have too many auction catalogs, and not enough.

Walter · March 9, 2010 12:04PM

I'm always keen on sourcing World Coin auction catalogues, hit me a message if you're looking to get rid of them.

farthing · March 9, 2010 12:56PM

The Ford catalogs bring good money on both eBay and the BST list over on the US side.

I'm always interested in UK based catalogs.

Yes, I keep my catalogs.

IloiloKano · March 9, 2010 2:10PM

Send a PM to Omega to get an address to send via media mail to his Young Notables Class.

Here's the link for his latest update, which coincidentally was today.

What do you do with old auction catalogs?

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