FAQs
Q. Is The Archive hiring employees?
A. Not yet. Hopefully we’ll be able to hire employees when the economy improves. Support us, and we’ll support local businesses as well!
Q. What kind of books does The archive sell?
A. The Archive is a full-service bookstore offering thousands of new and used titles across hundreds of subjects and fields of study. We have particularly good holdings in Philosophy, Eastern Studies, Esoterica, Photography, Art, History and Literature. We sell soft cover and hard cover books, first editions and reprints.
Q. What kind of books does the archive buy?
A. The Archive has many books in storage, waiting to be processed. We do not actively seek to buy books, unless they are scholarly, highly collectible, hard to find, or have some special attribute. We are more likely to purchase large specialized personal libraries. Email info@archivescribe.com
We are always interested in looking at books printed before 1800, leather bindings, modern first editions, science fiction, cookbooks, autographs and manuscripts, small press books, oversize art books, and film books. We only buy books that we can resell. We DO NOT buy moldy books, family Bibles, self-help, textbooks, encyclopedias, romance novels, magazines, audiobooks, or software manuals.
Q. Does the Archive sell books over the internet?
A. Yes! We offer a selection of special books online through the Advanced Book Exchange at our electronic storefront http://www.abebooks.com/the-archive-saint-louis-mo-u.s.a/55283919/sf.
Q. Why should I shop at a bookstore, when I can just buy my books online?
A. As the American Booksellers Association says, “healthy local economies help communities thrive.” Independent used bookstores are part of the local economy, creating good jobs and attracting educated customers to our region. Employees of chain stores do not offer the same level of knowledge and service that are the key to successful independent businesses. You will also find that many small online sellers are not able to fulfill your book orders even after your order has been accepted. In a physical bookstore, the selection has been personally selected to appeal to local tastes. If you find a book at The Archive that you want to read, you don’t have to wait for it to be delivered, and there are no extra costs. Buying local reduces packaging, transportation, and lowers your carbon footprint.
Q. What kind of books should I collect?
A. Start by deciding on a subject that you would like to collect. For instance, you could collect books about books, books about films, 19th century British literature, beat literature, books about hot air balloons, or books about Andy Warhol. You can collect in any subject you can think of!
Try to collect widely and deeply. Even if a book only has one chapter on the subject of your collection, it will help complete the picture that your collection is forming.
Try to collect hard cover books; they are more durable. Attempt to recognize and purchase first editions, which have tended to increase in value over time as collector’s items. Remember that a book with the original dust jacket is more desirable than a book without the jacket.
Q. Where can I get my books restored or rebound?
A. While the archive does not restore or rebound books in house, we can point you to a qualified craftsperson. Email info@archivescribe.com for more information.
Q. Are my books valuable?
A. All published books have literary and artistic value. Do they have monetary value? That depends on scarcity, condition, and the collectible market. If you have a nice first edition of almost any title by Mark Twain, it probably has some monetary value. Not all old books are valuable, however. For instance, old Bibles, which may appear very ornate, are so common that they hold little interest to general collectors, and can be purchased for very low prices.
Q. How will you appraise my books?
A. Appraisal is a subjective art. After making a physical examination of a book, and assigning a condition, we note special qualities in the edition, binding and text of the book, and consult auction prices, catalogues, and reference works to determine the current value.
