AbeBooks Launches Gojaba -- a Book Site for Russia, Sweden and More
- by Michael Stillman
The Gojaba site, which leads to Russian and Swedish versions.
By Michael Stillman
Leading internet bookselling site AbeBooks has launched a new service in territories outside its traditional base of North America and Western Europe. Its name is Gojaba, and the first countries to be served (now in Beta) are Russia and Sweden. Brazil is expected to follow not far behind.
Gojaba hearkens back to the early days of Abe. It is described in their news release as "a new no-frills, low-cost online marketplace for used, rare and out-of-print books." There are no commissions and there is no credit card processing. The bookseller simply pays a monthly listing fee and all leads are sent directly to the seller. Abe's role is to connect buyer and seller and then step back from the transaction. The rest is up to them.
The price for listing 20,000 books on the Russian site is 129 rubles, or in U.S. currency $5.32! That sounds like one heck of a deal, but Gojaba would not yet have a following among buyers approaching Abe's. Additionally, Russia is not yet a very wealthy nation. For Swedish sellers, the monthly rate is 99 krona, or $15.95.
We asked AbeBooks' PR and Publicity Manager Richard Davies whether there would be any integration between listings on Abe and Gojaba. He responded no; "The Gojaba database and AbeBooks database are completely separate, and it will remain that way. The two sites use different technologies but also serve different markets." As to whether Abe expects Gojaba to attract collectors or readers, Davies responded that he believes it will draw in both high-end rare book buyers and those looking for cheap used copies.
To the question why Abe selected Russia, a land with its share of economic and other problems, Mr. Davies responded that there were several reasons. "There is a huge population of over 140 million and a well established book culture -- more than 95,000 books were published in 2005. If there is a book culture then there are collectors. Internet usage is growing - over 25% of the population uses the internet. The average wage is increasing and the economy is booming, and there are a growing number of wealthy individuals with significant spending power, particularly around Moscow." He noted that there is already a site similar to Amazon, and a few basic, though not well-developed book sites. In addition, he described the Russian postal system as "efficient," a necessary element for online bookselling. "So we see potential in Russia," he concluded.
He is undoubtedly right. These markets will develop and the question is who does it and when, not whether. Abe got out of the box early in North America, and they are evidently determined to repeat that success in other markets. Asked where else we might see Gojaba go after Brazil is launched, Mr. Davies answered, "We intend to look into opportunities in a number of emerging markets for online used bookselling - in no particular order, they include Poland, India, China, Japan and South Korea."
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
