Piece it out or sell it as a whole?

[clovis97]

I recently picked up a Sherwin-Williams automotive paint chip book from the early 50's.

If you are unfamiliar with these books, they were used by body shops and paint retailers as an guide to identify the different paint colors, and how to mix them.

Individual pages seem to be selling for 6.99 to 10.00. I am thinking that I would list at $10+ with free shipping.

There are at least 40 pages, plus the binder.

As a whole it is in fair condition, but, at least in my eyes, the condition issues become much less of an issue when sold by the page. I'd have to take 12 pics to show the problems, and spend an hour describing the differing minor issues if sold as a whole book.

I'd guess that the book as a whole would sell for $100 pretty quickly.

FWIW, if you care, I paid a whopping dime for this book. Really, just 10 cents.

Should I piece it out, or sell it as a whole?

What would you do??

 

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[Minrelica]

Keep it all together

 

[clovis97]

Keep it all together

Why do you suggest that? Ease of listing, and the time savings?

 

[Minrelica]

2 reasons

- It's been together for this long, leave it together
- Someone want's the complete book, why would they want just a page?

I'm not sure what you're looking at for research purposes but I don't see it going for much money at all... List it at $9.95 and let the bidders decide what it's worth

 

[dejapooh]

These would be really easy to list one page at a time. I would take the worst condition pages in the book, sell them with the binder as a lot. Then take the other 25 to 35 pages and sell them individually.

 

[clovis97]

2 reasons

- It's been together for this long, leave it together
- Someone want's the complete book, why would they want just a page?

I'm not sure what you're looking at for research purposes but I don't see it going for much money at all... List it at $9.95 and let the bidders decide what it's worth

I've recently had very good luck selling parts books and magazines from certain eras. I think an early 50's car guy would like this as a whole. if that is his area of specialty.

Then, again, I could be dead wrong about this one.

These paint books are very similar to parts books. It is a three ring binder of separate sections. One page will be labeled 1952 Ford, and have a sample of each of the car colors that Ford produced for that year. The next page will be 1953 Ford, and so on.

The guy that owns a '52 Ford wants a paint chip chart to see and use the different colors, either for reference, or for mixing his own paint color.

Again, like I said before, I could be dead wrong on the complete book. I didn't find a complete book in the completed history that was exactly like the one I had, so I am just guessing on a price.

 

[diggummup]

Here is one from 1965 with 30 pages, it sold for $14.99- Vintage 1965 Car Paint Color Chip Book Sherwin Williams Automotive Manual | eBay

I think you may be reaching to get $100. Let the market decide. Start your listing at $20 and see where it goes, or if it goes at all.

BTW- It's a book made for commercial purposes, they were used. You should not expect to find one in mint condition, for the most part. List it as used with a quick descrip. of any major problems and overall condition, period.

 

[clovis97]

Thanks, Dig.

I think the 60's era books are pretty common, and don't command much money. Something just tells me this is a good one, but I am going to piece it out, I think.

FWIW, this is another item that used to be crazy hot sellers on ebay, back in the day. A friend of mine paid $35 for one at an auction, which I thought was just stupid, until I looked them up. Single pages were selling for $20 to $30! Of course, that was then, and this is now, so it doesn't really matter.

 

[clovis97]

FWIW, I just sold the first one.

About 40 more to go.

Since I paid a dime for this book, I'm already at 100X what I invested, LOL.

 

[spartacus53]

Yes, do both

Sell as many of the individual pages as you can for a quick buck, then sell the book and and let the buyers understand there are a few pages missing It's a win/win for you

 

[clovis97]

Just as an update:

I've sold 7 pages out of the book so far. Surprisingly, two of them have shipped to Europe to two different buyers. If you didn't know it, there is a small, but very hot market for vintage American cars in Europe. You would think that a vintage Cadillac with a 500 CI motor would have no place in a country like Germany where gas is $8 a gallon. Check out Cadillacs in Germany on YouTube sometime when you are bored.

I priced these at the top of the market, so they might have sold a little faster if I played the low end price game. Still fun to have a nice return on my dime!