What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £18 (~$24) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £15 (~$20) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £12 (~$16) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £8 (~$11) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £4 (~$6) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Damp, which spreads to whatever you shelve beside it and cannot be reversed. Then edition — a later printing described loosely as a first.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether hardback books is worth what is being asked:
- Missing dust jackets
- Cracked hinges and loose text blocks
- Foxing and damp staining
- Ex-library copies with stamps
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- First editions with original dust jackets
- Signed copies with provenance
- Tight bindings with sound hinges
- Complete matched sets
Common faults and fakes
Book-club editions and later printings sold as firsts, usually without intent. The copyright page settles it.
Ask for a photograph of the copyright page and the spine, and ask directly whether there is any musty smell. An honest seller will say.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about hardback books, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph the copyright page and let the buyer judge. Number lines and publisher conventions vary, and collectors read them far more reliably than a seller’s summary.
Say so, and mention if it is price clipped. A facsimile jacket is worth far less than an original and the distinction must be stated.
Photograph any writing. A previous owner’s name reduces value; an author’s signature can multiply it, and the two are easily confused in a description.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the copyright page for edition and printing
- Confirm whether the dust jacket is present and unclipped
- Open the covers and check the hinges
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The front cover with the jacket on, straight on
- The copyright page showing edition and number line
- The spine and spine ends, and the jacket flaps
- Any tear, chip, foxing, inscription or price clip
Details to confirm before you commit
- Title, author, publisher and year
- Edition and printing, with the number line photographed if present
- Whether the dust jacket is present, and its condition separately from the book
- Any inscription, bookplate, foxing or damage
Live hardback books listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse books for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady year round to collectors, with a lift before Christmas. Identified first editions sell quickly; book club editions and reprints compete on price.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have hardback books sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell hardback books for what to photograph and how to price, or what hardback books are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used hardback books?
Around £2 to £12 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check hardback books before buying?
Ask for a photograph of the copyright page and the spine, and ask directly whether there is any musty smell. An honest seller will say.
Is buying hardback books second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Damp, which spreads to whatever you shelve beside it and cannot be reversed. Then edition — a later printing described loosely as a first.
See also: all buying guides · hardback books value guide · selling hardback books · Books · condition grades.