I hope that you will find the following information helpful.

Please note that many of my auctions are shown as free UK postage - this is added by EBay, and is misleading. They are actually inclusive postage (i.e. postage price added to the starting price). Overseas postage rates shown are corrected to what would have been charged, less UK postage.

Most of my auctions end around 6pm on Saturdays, starting on Wednesdays. Some weeks mainly books on 1 or 2 subjects, other weeks a varied selection.

I mostly sell non-fiction books on a wide variety of subjects.  If you like items that I am listing, why not include me on your favourite sellers list as I will probably have similar items in the future.

All items are from a smoke-free household.

I use the following standard book grades as follows :

• Fine (F) - Normal condition for a new book.
• Near Fine (NF) - The book may have a small flaw.
• Very Good (VG) - The book may have a small flaw or two.
• Good (G) - A book in OK condition, but with some flaws.
• Fair (FR) - A complete book, but has several flaws, probably including a major flaw.
• Poor (P) - Has major flaws, and possibly incomplete.

I use + and - in association with the above grades and always list the flaws a book has.  I always clearly mention if a book is ex-library or a book club edition.

Any information such as printing year not obtained from the book directly appears in [square brackets], I usually find this information from library records.  I sometimes also make reference to library records; COPAC (library records for UK libraries), and worldcat (the largest bibliographic database in the world, including US libraries and others).

Some of my titles contain keywords or set numbers to help buyers find my items; these usually appear towards the end of the title.  I sometimes also include abbreviations in my titles / item description.  The main ones are as follows.

• HB = Hardback Book
• PB = Paperback Book
• 1st = First Edition
• DJ = Dustjacket
• pp = printed pages
• TEG = Top Edge Gilt
• AEG = All Edges Gilt
• 4to = Quarto
• 8vo = Octavo

I always have a collection in person postal option for UK sales.  I live in Penrith, just over 1 mile from M6 junction 40.  If you win an auction and wish to collect your item, I will email you with detailed directions and a map that you can print.

If you find an item that you really want, especially if it is rare, make sure to bid the maximum amount you are willing to pay well before the auction ends to increase your chances of winning it.  If you leave it until the last minute, you risk missing the end of the auction - computers can sometimes start slowly at the most annoying times.

Although I try to describe my items as best I can, omissions can sometimes occur.  If you require additional information about any item or spot an error in any of my listings, please contact me and I will reply as soon as I receive your message.

Returns policy for books etc. (may not show correctly on listings viewed on ebay.com, but still applies) : I can accept returns within 14 days of delivery on a no quibble basis. If its because of a mistake or significant omission in my listing, refunds will also include postage both ways. Please contact me by e-mail explaining the problem, and return the item in the same condition as received.

Something to sell?

I sell books, ephemera, and some other items (such as small toys, coins and militaria, no breakables) on a commission basis. Charges are 40% up to £100 per item, and 30% thereafter. Inclusive of all EBay and PayPal fees. Reserves (if agreed) can be set as a minimum starting price. No charge on unsold items. Most items (or group of similar items) will need to be worth a minimum of £15, but some lower value items will be accepted if part of a larger collection. You will need to either deliver the goods here (Penrith), or pay postage to send them here; alternatively if you are fairly close, I can sometimes collect them for a fee.

All items will be listed to the same standard as my own items. Average prices will be higher than consigning them to an auction room - if something is likely to sell significantly better somewhere else, I'll let you know. Professionally written listings usually sell for higher prices than a basic listing, and it saves you time.

If you have something you think is suitable, send an email to jwillan1@sky.com and I'll reply as soon as possible. Anything from a single book to a small library.