Looking for help and advice about Film related books

[Lisa Malins]

This is my first post so please be gentle… I apologise if it’s in the wrong place. Me and my brother find ourselves having to deal with our late fathers film “stuff” which has been sat for a good long while untouched. We have dealt with a fraction of it with the help of some lovely people we’ve encountered along the way. One of the big issues (apart from the films & equipment ) is our dads book collection which is extensive. I’m hoping that someone out there in the wonderful world of home cinema that our dad loved so much, can point us in the direction of someone who buys and sells books. (Preferably the whole lot as life is too short ) There are many actors biographies, books about Hollywood, horror and everything in between, some have ISBN barcodes and some don’t. Some are quite old and none are older than 2009. We simply don’t have the time to list separately or list online or pack up for shipping (we’re talking a lot of books😂)

We’re based in West Yorkshire UK and would be very grateful for any contacts before the inevitable has to happen.

[Steve Klare]

Hi Lisa,

I'm sorry for your loss. I have had to dispose of my own parents' household (-and the house where I grew up...) and it was one of the hardest things I ever dealt with emotionally. I felt like I was erasing part of my own history. (Not everyone gets a museum, I guess!)

I think your Golden Era of Movies books are general interest enough that a local used book dealer will probably be interested. Books that are more specialized towards 8mm and 16mm film will get a much better response in places like the sales section in this forum. eBay reaches everyone, everywhere too, so the "specialists" can seek you out: that might work as well.

Most people think small gauge film is extinct. Lenny Lipton, the author of many books on cinematography wrote the classic "The Super 8 Book". By the time he created a website, he didn't even list this book among his publications. (Maybe he thought nobody cared anymore, even if some really do!)

-so, to sell something like this, you need to find the people that value it.

[Ken Finch]

Hi Lisa, So sorry to hear about your loss. My children will have similar problems when I go, so as I am now of advanced years I am starting to part with some of my gear including film related books. There are plenty of second hand bookshops around that would be interested. Members of the forum may be interested in any relating to the narrow gauge films or film collecting. Any that you cannot sell could be donated to a charity shop or cinema museum if they are in good condition. If you wish to sell them as a job lot, then a second hand book shop in your area would be your best bet. Our local library also accepts donations of books which are in very good condition. Hope this is of help to you.

[Lisa Malins]

Thank you for your kind words and suggestions. Unfortunately our local charity shops limit the amount of books you can donate and believe me we donated a huge amount of our mums books already. Maybe we should categorise them first and take it from there. Thank you once again. I’m sure I’ll be back seeking advice about the huge film collection and projectors, editors, slicing equipment, bulbs, cables ……😳🤯