Are my old Penguins valuable?

This is a question that the Society has often been asked. The short answer is probably not. The main reason for this is that most titles were printed in very large numbers — and it takes scarcity to create value.

Most collectors are interested in the early years. Very few Penguin paperbacks printed after 1950 have any real value — that is more than a new paperback would cost today. Battered reprints, while they may still make an excellent read, have no real resale potential. Even a sought-after early title is unlikely to be worth more than a new hardback, say £20/$35. The following titles and series fall in the ‘likely to be worth more’ category. Note that, as with any book, value is added if it is a first printing and in mint condition and has, where applicable, a dust cover.

• Very early low number titles — these are distinguished by having ‘The Bodley Head’ on the cover.
• Mystery and Crime titles published before 1946. These have dark green covers.
• Foreign and HM Forces printings.
• Early children’s titles — the first Puffins and the elusive Cut-outs, Baby Puffin and Porpoise series.
• Some titles relating to Art and Architecture — not all of them paperbacks.

While many old Penguins will have no huge value, the books themselves are a hugely important part of British culture, and there will undoubtedly be someone, somewhere who wants what you have now benefited from. Please — hand unwanted books to Oxfam or some other charitable recyler (rather than burning them out of spite because they didn’t make you rich!).

The PCS is happy to offer advice (contact the Webmaster) but it does not deal or have any connections with dealers. You may find some of the Useful links can help you.

Page last updated: 13 July 2006