Sell your books — Le Chef-d'Œuvre Inconnu

Selling a library is rarely an easy decision. Whether it’s a succession, a move, or simply the need to make space, you deserve to be accompanied with respect, transparency, and no pressure. Here’s how I work.

Why sell to The Keeper

Large chains treat books as goods. Flea markets dump them. I do something else: I look at each volume as an object that has crossed time, and that deserves to continue its journey.

My eye is trained in museum studies (palaeography, representation of death in 15th-century sculpture). That means before offering you a price, I take the time to understand what you’re entrusting me with: the edition, the provenance, the condition, the actual rarity. Not a rough estimate in the hallway.

And above all, I’m not in a hurry. Neither are you. If we need to come back a second time, we will.

The process, step by step

Four steps, in this order, no surprises.

1. Initial contact — you write to me (form below, coming soon, or directly by email/phone) with a few words about what you have: estimated number of volumes, themes, general condition, context (succession, move, decluttering).
2. On-site visit — I come to your place, free of charge in the Lille metropolitan area. I take the time needed to examine the books that might have value. You stay alongside me if you wish — many questions find their answer in conversation.
3. Purchase proposal with tailored contract — depending on your situation, I offer an outright purchase, a selective acquisition (I buy only certain titles), a consignment (I sell on your behalf, we share), or advice for an auction sale if more relevant. The contract is written, clear, no hidden clauses.
4. The choice is yours — you decide. You can take time to think, compare with another estimate, or simply decline. No insistence.

Successions and moves

A succession is rarely the moment when one feels like dealing with a library. I know. My interventions in this context are carried out with discretion and efficiency.

For a move, the tempo is different — often you have to act fast. I can intervene within 48 to 72 hours in the Lille metropolitan area, and organise travel for metropolitan France depending on the volume.

In both cases, I can work with your notary, your estate agent, or simply with you, no middleman. The goal isn’t to add complexity to an already difficult moment, but to remove it.

Transparency on prices

Let me be clear about what a fair price is.

I don’t pay off mortgages, but a fair tribute that recognises the object’s value while allowing me to carry on my work of preservation — conservation, light restoration, finding serious buyers. My goal isn’t to make a fortune at your expense, but to ensure a rare book doesn’t end up pulped.

If a piece turns out to have exceptional value, I’ll tell you and direct you, if necessary, toward an auction sale, even if that means losing the purchase. It’s a matter of respect — for you, and for the books.

What we buy

The list is never exhaustive — always ask. As a guide:

• Antique books (printed before 1900), bound or paperback
• 20th-century first editions (literature, humanities, fine arts)
• Coherent themed collections (Northern France regional studies, French history, philosophy, antique medicine, etc.)
• Engravings, lithographs, prints
• Manuscripts, autograph letters, notebooks
• Signed books (depending on the author and the quality of the dedication)
• Quality contemporary illustrated and artist’s books

If you’re not sure, send me a few photos before throwing anything away.

What we don’t buy

Out of honesty, here are the cases where I’ll redirect you elsewhere:

• Recent mass-market books (paperbacks, post-2000 bestsellers)
• Large-format encyclopaedias from the 70s and 80s (very little demand)
• Books in poor condition beyond restoration (damp, deep mould, massive missing pages)
• School courses, dated university textbooks

These books deserve another life: flea markets, charity shops, recycling centres, donations to libraries, or simply paper recycling. I can recommend local options if you wish.