We Buy Books!

We're always in need of good books, and we buy all kinds of books at Moe's. We make cash and trade offers depending on the books that you bring.

 You do not need an appointment, though we appreciate it when you call us ahead of time if you have a large number of books to offer. We also have staff on-hand to make offers on antiquarian and more unusual titles.

We must see all books in-person in order to make an offer. We can't tell you over the phone or by email if we would buy a particular book, unless it is very unusual. What we buy changes all the time, depending on our current inventory and what titles are selling. We can't really say what we will buy at any given time, but here are a few guidelines that might be helpful:

• Condition is very important to us and our customers. Though there are a few exceptions, we generally do not buy books that have been underlined or highlighted. We do buy certain library discards, but they must be marked as such. We do not buy books that are damaged, moldy, or missing covers or spines.

• We tend not to buy encyclopedias. We do buy some sets, but it is best to contact us ahead of time before lugging sets down to us. You can always bring in a single volume from a set to give us an idea of what you are offering.

• We do not buy old editions of titles that are updated regularly, such as old textbooks, computer books, and travel guides.

• We do buy textbooks, if current and being taken by our textbook partner. Because these aren't being sold in the store, condition and highlighting is less of a factor.

Having said all that, if you're not sure if we would be interested in some of the books you have, bring them in anyway! Sometimes the most interesting books we see are the ones that people did not think were worth anything.

We pay based on a scale of what we hope to get for a book. While we make the highest cash offers around, we also have a liberal trade policy, with trade being good on all the used and remaindered books in our inventory as well as greeting cards. Trade issued at Moe's is not valid in More Moe's. The art shop buys for cash and trade also, but as a separate store.

If you have a big collection or library, please send information and photos to anthonymoes@gmail.com.

Rare Books

More Moe's is open Wednesday-Saturday by appointment.

Within Moe's Books there is a special art and antiquarian section sequestered in its own room on the fourth floor. To schedule an appointment to view our collection, please call Johnny Williams at (510) 708-9348. During your time in the rare book room, take a few moments to browse through our extensive inventory of rare and fine arts books, as well as a superb collection of books in literature, the sciences, illustrated books, fashion, exploration, and just about any other subject area imaginable. Bring us your books and come have a look at ours, you will find it a fascinating and rewarding experience. Longtime customers are always welcome!

Since 1959, Moe's has been providing customers with fair and accurate valuations of rare and collectible books in a broad and expansive range of subject areas. While specializing in books on the fine arts, photography, and architecture, our rare books staff has a combined 75 years of experience appraising and evaluating scarce and unusual books in virtually every field of interest. The origins of this "store within a store" will explain its being designated "More Moe's." The previous location of Moe's from the 1960s to early 1970s was two doors down from our current site. As the store grew and prospered, our inventory of expensively produced books and very scarce books and valuable centuries old books increased and created a need to segregate this group of books to protect them from damage that results from mishandling and other threats, all lessened by a more watchful husbandry.

Prior to this moment in time, Moe had given over to small, but zealous group of employees a large corner of the store to manage on their own—a proto-store-within-a-store, you might say. Originally headed by Sam Bercholtz, this group was blissfully enthusiastic about the science of the mind, mostly as experience, and all things Asian and mystical, topics enjoying a special vogue at the time. (Sam and his group would later move next door to found a separate book shop they named Shambhala Books, which developed into Shambhala Publications, now located in Boulder, Colorado.) Perhaps the thought of diminishing further the general area of the growing business hatched the plan of an annex, so More Moe's opened in a small store front around the corner with a staff to two, Gene Barone and John Wong (the still reigning book wizard of More Moe's).

When Moe's moved into its new four story building in 1978, More Moe's was returned to the fold and provided with about a third of the area of the fourth floor, walled off with handsome oak and large glass windows. The name More Moe's, however, with its overtones of "annex," had stuck. The staff was increased to four, and the collection continued to grow and deepen.

In the mid 90s, Moe's began to post books for sale on the internet—to the limit that commerce was permitted back in the early days, and it quickly became evident that the inventory of More Moe's was the best candidate for cataloging. Today, our internet sales worldwide are a major source of revenue for us and our newfound international customer base increases the breadth of books we can expect to sell.

For inquires related to our art and antiquarian shop, please call Johnny Williams at (510) 708-9348.