Last Updated on March 7, 2024 by Rachel Granholm
Learn how to thrift for vintage books with these easy pointers!
I used to have a super difficult time navigating stores, trying to find vintage and hardcover books. However, through practice, I’ve been able to successfully find old books in ways that others might not know about. I’ve done the hard part for you and am sharing my tips and tricks on how to thrift for vintage books!
A Guide to Thrifting Vintage (and Antique) Books
Over the past few years, I’ve gained knowledge in many areas related to thrifting. When I feel like I have enough experience in a certain area, I like to share it with you in hopes of passing along helpful advice. Thrifting for vintage, especially books, is such a thrill!
Shop Vintage Books
Pricing for Vintage Books
First, let’s talk briefly about fair prices to pay for old books.
This is going to vary from person to person depending on the location, where you are shopping and how popular vintage books are in a given area. An average price for vintage books in my part of the country is around $6.00 per one.
Personally, I don’t like to spend more than $5.00 for any one book. Most of the vintage books in my collection have been purchased for between $2-3.00. If a book is on the larger side, I feel okay about paying a little more for that, say around $8.00.
When it really comes down to, though, is what a book is worth to you. If you love it and is going to add joy to your home, buy it!
How to Thrift for Vintage Books
Below are some easy tips and tricks that I use when hunting for vintage books at thrift stores or vintage shops. If you don’t find any the first time around, try again another day.
Patience is the key when thrifting for any type of decor item. I do hope you find them practical and handy. Let’s get into it!
1. Peel Back the Dust Cover.
The first tip on how to thrift for vintage books is to see what is underneath the paper. Many times old books have a paper cover that wraps around the whole book and it’s usually either 1) NOT pretty or 2) Super ripped and torn in many places, or both.
Look past that cover and see what the actual book looks like.
In my experience, the books that are covered with a dust cover are so pretty, sometimes having a linen texture to them or containing lovely old graphics.
So, take a few minutes to peruse the book section at the thrift store. Peek under a few of the dust covers and see what there is…I have found many of my favorite books in this way!
2. Check Unexpected Areas.
Another thing to do when hunting for old books is to look in places that you wouldn’t expect books to be. Sometimes people will grab a book, carry it around with them but then decide not to purchase it. They set it down wherever they are in the store, leaving it for someone else!
I have found vintage books thrown in random boxes at the back of the store and in the kitchen section with dishes.
Another spot where I’ve found vintage books is in a styled vignette. This happens more at vintage shops or antique malls where the booth owner has created a themed display. They will sometimes stack them under a vase or flower pot or have a few books corralled with some candle sticks.
Always keep your eyes peeled in any area. You never know where a pretty old book might be!
3. Browse Each Bookshelf Carefully.
When searching for vintage books, one cannot be in a hurry. If I’m going thrifting and looking for something very particular, especially old books, I make sure I have at least thirty minutes of uninterrupted time to spend looking around.
I have learned that, if I’m in a rush, I don’t enjoy the process of browsing through all the books. I’m sure I’ve missed some pretty spectacular books in my day because I go in only having ten minutes.
Go in with an open mind and take your time looking through the book sections that interest you.
For example, I gravitate towards the home and gardening books as well as design and travel. In my experience, when I look through books where the content interests me, I am more apt to find one that I love.
4. Get Down and Dig.
The last tip that I have for you is to simply roll up your sleeves and dig. I’ve done this many times in the novel section of the thrift store.
You know those shelves with novel after novel and they are all piled on top of each other? Those are the places to look, guys!
I’ve pulled so many beautiful old books out from under stacks of other books. This is how to thrift for vintage books it it’s finest!
When you find books that speak to you, grab them and start a pile next to you. Once you have looked through the shelves, then you can go back and weed through your stack, choosing which ones you want to purchase.
This ensures that no one else grabs a book out from in front of you while you are still searching. Many people go to thrift stores and antique shops to do just the same thing as you…digging and thrifting for vintage books!
How to Style Vintage Books
Below is a brief list of ways that you can use and decorate with old books in your home.
For more in-depth and detailed ideas on how to style and decorate with vintage books, you can read this post, 3 Ways to Decorate with Vintage Books.
- stack a few underneath a vase or jar
- line them up across a shelf
- style them into a seasonal vignette
- use them for height in a display
- open them up and use as background decor
Closing Tidbits on How to Thrift for Vintage Books
I hope you learned something new about how to thrift for vintage books! Most of the time thrifting is pure luck but, at times, there can be an art to finding the items that you are looking for.
Through practice and patience, you will be able to discover hidden treasures that are meant specifically for you! Be encouraged to search for pretty old things, books or otherwise, finding joy along the way.
Leave me a comment! Do you like to use vintage books in your decor? How would you use them? I love hearing from you!
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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.
Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!
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51 Comments. Leave new
I am interested in collecting children’s old books. Do you read them? Do you worry about bugs or worms I’ve heard are in old books. Do you wear special gloves when touching them? If so where did you get them. What makes an old book valuable? I see so many with loose binding, stains, tears does this impact the value. I once knew someone who got rid of all his books because he thought the bugs in some were able to transfer to new books. Is this true?
Hi Carm! I will do my best to answer all your questions.
1) I do not personally collect old children’s books but they are quite popular. There is a lady on YouTube, Her channel is called Nicole Northgarden Thrifter, and she collects children’s books.
2) I have never worried about bugs or worms…I’ve never heard of worms in old books before actually. I have never had an issue with bugs being in my house from an old book. However, I have heard that if you put your books in the freezer for a few days, it will kill anything that might be in them. I do not wear gloves, either!
3) For me personally, I don’t really look at the value of books, or anything vintage really. I just buy things to decorate my home. If I love something and it speaks to me, I buy it, regardless of value. But yes…If you are looking at value, the stains and tears and everything will probably affect the value of the book as a whole.
4) I have no idea if bugs will transfer to other books or not…like I said earlier I’ve never had an issue with bugs in my books. I’ve got a collection of about 20 maybe now and still haven’t had any problems
I hope this helps…thanks so much for stopping by today and for your thoughtful questions! Have a great day ahead!
Give me all the vintage books! Love that you collect these Rachel and that you’ve been able to find so many at reasonable prices too. Your vignettes are always so lovely and make me want to run to the store to try and find some goodies! Hope your summer is filled with happy shopping, CoCo
Hey! Right?! Thanks so much, CoCo!!
You have such great tips for finding these beauties! I have been looking but I am going to up my game now and hopefully find a nice bundle for my living room 🙂
Thanks so much, Tanya!! I hope you find some amazing ones!!
Great tips, I’ve also heard from another You-Tube Thrifter – Jean E mentioned Silverfish bugs in books and she leaves her books out in the sun for a day, to rid her books from bugs.
Gosh…I must find the ‘clean’ books because I’ve never had an issue with bugs but this is helpful to know! Thanks for stopping by today, Vicki!
Hi Rachel! Oh my, I wish I would have read this post before I went to that big yard sale last weekend! I was looking at vintage books but had no idea what a good price was. The ones I was most interested in had a sign that said books $5 FIRM! Now I wish I would have bought them. Oh well, thanks for this info! I’ll be much better prepared for my next trip to Renninger’s!! Happy day!
Hello!
Darnit! I so wish you would have gotten those! Now you know for next time 🙂 Thanks for reading today, Donna!
I love old books too! They are beautiful to look at and have so much information from the past. Your decorating tips are spot on Rachel! That stack of green books is so pretty 🙂
Hey Cindy!
Thanks so much!! I’m partial to old green ones 🙂
Old books are the best. I love to decorate with them. We just scored a bunch of old books that have red covers from my husband’s grandfather. I was SO excited! I used them over the 4th and can’t wait to use them again during the holidays!
That’s SO cool!! What a nice gesture of him to gift you those old books!
Great tips Rachel! Thanks so much for sharing at the Fabulous Friday Link Party. We’re thrilled to be featuring you this week.
Hi Diane!
That’s amazing…thanks so much!!
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[…] Rachel from The Antiqued Journey is your new best friend! She has shared so many great tips on How to Thrift Vintage Books — there’s a lot […]
Hey Rachel! So many great tips! I love vintage books and feel as though you can never have too many. Some of the older books have beautiful illustrations. Great post my friend!
Thank you!!
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Hi Rachel – I am sharing the ideas in this post in my Unboxing post this Saturday!
Thanks so much, Anna!!
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We have books from my husband’s grandfather, and some from his great aunt. I keep telling myself I will go through them soon, but haven’t done so. Our daughter and grand daughter were here a few weeks ago, and our granddaughter found some poetry books of her great grandfather’s which she chose. I’m not sure his age, but he had written his name over and over in cursive. It helped that the covers were green, since that’s her favorite color.
Hi, DeeDee!!
That’s amazing!! Such a neat story…thanks so much for sharing that! I’m partial to the green books, as well 🙂