Abe Increases Rates;<br>Alibris is Going Public.<br>What’s Next for the Book Sites?
- by Michael Stillman
Making sense? Abe will be collecting three more cents per dollar on sales for a total of eight.
By Michael Stillman
Two significant announcements were made this past month concerning the online bookselling sites. The one which garnered the most attention came from Abebooks, which announced it was raising the commissions it charges on sales by 3%. Formerly at 5%, the new charge is 8% (plus a monthly listing fee based on the number of books the seller posts).
The reaction from booksellers was fast and predictable. No one likes their costs to rise. While Abe may be a bargain compared to Alibris or Amazon, with commissions of 20% and 15% (but without posting fees), booksellers were quick to point out that this represents a 60% increase. After all, it was not that long ago that Abe charged no commissions at all, only the flat, not very expensive monthly listing fees.
The message boards quickly lit up with complaints, anger, and threats to leave Abe. Probably few will follow through. Unless they have an alternative, anyone doing a substantial business on Abe will only hurt themselves by leaving. Those not doing a substantial business don’t make much difference to Abe anyway. The short-term effect will probably be minimal. The more interesting question is what will the long-term effect be. The internet turned the staid old business of bookselling on its head a few years ago. Now the internet bookselling business is in the throws of major changes itself. Who will emerge as winners and losers is as yet unknown. Abe is in a pitched battle with some powerful foes. It is the leader, the biggest fish in its pond, but it is swimming with sharks. Some of those sharks are very large, and a few are killer sharks. They will have to be very good in the years ahead to retain their leadership. This is just one step in preparing for the future. Only time will tell whether it was the right step or a misstep.
This is a point booksellers need to remember. Abe is a business in a very competitive world. They need to do what is best for themselves. Booksellers may not like increased costs. The book collecting community may not like it either. Eventually, costs get passed on, and increased commissions for middlemen ultimately hurt both those who buy and those who sell. Nevertheless, Abe must act in its own self-interest. The only question is whether this move is in its best interests. Only from hindsight will we be able to answer this question.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
