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Bookselling in the Modern Age

October 27, 2025 By Greg Gibson Leave a Comment

AbeBooks has received the following inquiry.
I want to pay by check which is drawn from Bank of America.
Pleased advise  on payment with your full address.
Thank you,

Xxxx Xxxx

Title: The Papers of Francis Bernard Governor of Colonial Massachusetts, 1760-69.,
Author: Nicholson, Colin (editor).
Publisher: The Colonial Society of Massachusetts 2007-2022
Book ID: 49319
Price: USD 300.0
Please respond to the buyer’s inquiry within two business days.
Thank you,
Your AbeBooks Team

Hi –

Sorry, don’t take this personally, but this is the kind of inquiry that raises alarms in this age of scams. Do you have a Paypal account? A credit card? If you’d like to use your Bank of America check, write it to yourself for $320. Take the three $100 bills and a $20, put them in an envelope, and mail them along with your shipping address to me at:
Ten Pound Island etc.
I will send the 6 volume set by return mail and email you the tracking number.
Thanks for your inquiry,
Greg

(Same day)

AbeBooks has received the following inquiry.
Dear Sir/Madam, Would you accept $200 for this book? If so would you please send me a PayPal invoice plus shipping to XXX XXXXXPlease respond to the buyer’s inquiry within two business days.
Thank you,
Your AbeBooks Team

Thank you for your inquiry. Here are the 8 current online listings for this title. Sales prices range from lowest $250 (my copy) to $3000 (Xxxxx copy).

https://www.vialibri.net/.xxx etc. etc. etc

So my answer would be Go Fly a Kite, or Jump in a Lake, whichever you prefer.

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