Links to On-Line Bookstores
The following on-line bookstores, second-hand sites, and business marketplaces have been useful in acquiring most of my collection. While there are other on-line bookstores and sites that I regularly peruse, I've restricted this list to just those that I've actually used. I've also excluded the big sites like Amazon, ABEBooks, and ebay. Some of these sites don't have English interfaces (I've marked those that I know do), but a generous application of Google Translate is usually sufficient to navigate those that don't. Making a purchase through a second-hand sales site usually involves emailing the seller directly and arranging a PayPal or Western Union purchase. Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal have been sufficient payment for about 90% of the purchases I've made on-line and overseas. Western Union suffices for the rest. Several of the sites also have the prices displayed in a choice of currencies including Euros and US Dollars. My preferred express service is DHL. National postal services usually take at least twice as long with occasional significant delays (up to five weeks) at U.S. Customs. It may seem to be counterintuitive, but customer service in smaller countries off the beaten track is often exceptionally good. My experiences with sellers in Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bangladesh, Hungary, and Indonesia have been particularly noteworthy. Notes on payment and purchasing procedures are based on my last interactions with the site, which may have been several years ago.
The following on-line bookstores, second-hand sites, and business marketplaces have been useful in acquiring most of my collection. While there are other on-line bookstores and sites that I regularly peruse, I've restricted this list to just those that I've actually used. I've also excluded the big sites like Amazon, ABEBooks, and ebay. Some of these sites don't have English interfaces (I've marked those that I know do), but a generous application of Google Translate is usually sufficient to navigate those that don't. Making a purchase through a second-hand sales site usually involves emailing the seller directly and arranging a PayPal or Western Union purchase. Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal have been sufficient payment for about 90% of the purchases I've made on-line and overseas. Western Union suffices for the rest. Several of the sites also have the prices displayed in a choice of currencies including Euros and US Dollars. My preferred express service is DHL. National postal services usually take at least twice as long with occasional significant delays (up to five weeks) at U.S. Customs. It may seem to be counterintuitive, but customer service in smaller countries off the beaten track is often exceptionally good. My experiences with sellers in Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bangladesh, Hungary, and Indonesia have been particularly noteworthy. Notes on payment and purchasing procedures are based on my last interactions with the site, which may have been several years ago.
Ali & Nino. Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani and Turkish editions with English interface. Payment is through a PayPal link after exact shipping costs are calculated. (Azerbaijani, Azerbaijani [H], Turkish B)
Ali & Nino. Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani and Turkish editions with English interface. Payment is through a PayPal link after exact shipping costs are calculated. (Azerbaijani, Azerbaijani [H], Turkish B)
Almedina. Coimbra, Portugual. European Portuguese editions. One of the few Portuguese on-line shops that don't require a VAT number to order on-line. (Portuguese [European] B, Portuguese [European] [H] A, Portuguese [European] [H] B, Portuguese [European] [S])
Almedina. Coimbra, Portugual. European Portuguese editions. One of the few Portuguese on-line shops that don't require a VAT number to order on-line. (Portuguese [European] B, Portuguese [European] [H] A, Portuguese [European] [H] B, Portuguese [European] [S])
Anticariat Academic. Bucharest, Romania. Romanian editions. The order form only has Romanian in-country shipping options, so just select one of the options and when the owner sees your foreign address he'll write and make arrangements for payment and shipping. (Romanian B, Romanian C)
Anticariat Academic. Bucharest, Romania. Romanian editions. The order form only has Romanian in-country shipping options, so just select one of the options and when the owner sees your foreign address he'll write and make arrangements for payment and shipping. (Romanian B, Romanian C)
Antikvariaat. Tartu, Estonia. Estonian editions with English interface and request feature. (Estonian A)
Antikvariaat. Tartu, Estonia. Estonian editions with English interface and request feature. (Estonian A)
Antikvariát Avion. Liberec, Czech Republic. Used Czech and Slovak editions. When checking out it's tricky to use a credit card from the US because of the aggregator they use. After placing an order, you can request PayPal and they'll send you an invoice. (Czech E)
Antikvariát Avion. Liberec, Czech Republic. Used Czech and Slovak editions. When checking out it's tricky to use a credit card from the US because of the aggregator they use. After placing an order, you can request PayPal and they'll send you an invoice. (Czech E)
Antikvárium. Szeged, Hungary. Hungarian editions. International buyers don't get to pay right away from the website. Within a few days an employee in Szeged will get up-to-date shipping costs and send out an email with the final cost and a PayPal link. (Hungarian B, Hungarian D, Hungarian [S] A)
Antikvárium. Szeged, Hungary. Hungarian editions. International buyers don't get to pay right away from the website. Within a few days an employee in Szeged will get up-to-date shipping costs and send out an email with the final cost and a PayPal link. (Hungarian B, Hungarian D, Hungarian [S] A)
Bokkilden.no. Oslo, Norway. Norwegian editions. (Norwegian [Bokmål] A, Norwegian [Bokmål] C, Norwegian [Bokmål] [H] A, Norwegian [Bokmål] [H] B, Norwegian [Bokmål] [S], Norwegian [Nynorsk], Norwegian [Nynorsk] [H])
Bokkilden.no. Oslo, Norway. Norwegian editions. (Norwegian [Bokmål] A, Norwegian [Bokmål] C, Norwegian [Bokmål] [H] A, Norwegian [Bokmål] [H] B, Norwegian [Bokmål] [S], Norwegian [Nynorsk], Norwegian [Nynorsk] [H])
Book Depository. London, United Kingdom. European editions. Book Depository went out of business in early 2023. (Basque A, Basque B, Czech [S], French F [FR], Galician [H] A, Galician [H] B, German E, German F, German [H], German [S], Italian A, Italian B, Polish B, Polish G, Polish H, Polish [H] B, Polish [S], Spanish C, Spanish [H] A, Spanish [S] A, Swedish [H], Swedish [S])
Book Depository. London, United Kingdom. European editions. Book Depository went out of business in early 2023. (Basque A, Basque B, Czech [S], French F [FR], Galician [H] A, Galician [H] B, German E, German F, German [H], German [S], Italian A, Italian B, Polish B, Polish G, Polish H, Polish [H] B, Polish [S], Spanish C, Spanish [H] A, Spanish [S] A, Swedish [H], Swedish [S])
Buscalibre Internacional. Iberian peninsula editions with partially English interface. (Catalan A, Catalan C, Galician A, Galician B, Spanish D, Spanish E, Spanish [H] B, Spanish [S] B
Buscalibre Internacional. Iberian peninsula editions with partially English interface. (Catalan A, Catalan C, Galician A, Galician B, Spanish D, Spanish E, Spanish [H] B, Spanish [S] B
China Global Mall. Chinese editions. (Chinese [Traditional] B, Chinese [Traditional] [H]), Chinese [Simplified] M
China Global Mall. Chinese editions. (Chinese [Traditional] B, Chinese [Traditional] [H]), Chinese [Simplified] M
The Dogears Bookshop. Goa, India. Bengali editions with a website in English. The books are print on demand so it takes a couple of weeks between ordering and shipping. (Bengali [Indian], Bengali [Indian] [H])
The Dogears Bookshop. Goa, India. Bengali editions with a website in English. The books are print on demand so it takes a couple of weeks between ordering and shipping. (Bengali [Indian], Bengali [Indian] [H])
Emka.si. Ljubljana, Slovenia. Slovenian editions. At the bottom right of the page there is a link in English "To our international customers" that is very informative. (Slovenian A, Slovenian B, Slovenian [H], Slovenian [S])
Emka.si. Ljubljana, Slovenia. Slovenian editions. At the bottom right of the page there is a link in English "To our international customers" that is very informative. (Slovenian A, Slovenian B, Slovenian [H], Slovenian [S])
Ferdosi.com. Stockholm, Sweden. Farsi (Persian) and other Middle Eastern editions with English interface. Will get volumes directly from Tehran if they are out of stock. (Albanian [H], Farsi A, Farsi [H] A, Farsi [S] A, Farsi B, Farsi [H] B, Farsi [S] B)
Ferdosi.com. Stockholm, Sweden. Farsi (Persian) and other Middle Eastern editions with English interface. Will get volumes directly from Tehran if they are out of stock. (Albanian [H], Farsi A, Farsi [H] A, Farsi [S] A, Farsi B, Farsi [H] B, Farsi [S] B)
Grantha.lk. Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Sinhala editions with an English interface. Includes a "Please notify when available" link. (Sinhala A, Sinhala B)
Grantha.lk. Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Sinhala editions with an English interface. Includes a "Please notify when available" link. (Sinhala A, Sinhala B)
Hanbooks. Los Angeles, California. Korean editions. (Korean A, Korean B, Korean C, Korean [H] A, Korean [S], Korean [H] B)
Hanbooks. Los Angeles, California. Korean editions. (Korean A, Korean B, Korean C, Korean [H] A, Korean [S], Korean [H] B)
Hobbithunter Bookshop. Zwolle, Netherlands. Dutch and other European editions. (Dutch E, Dutch K A, Frisian [H])
Hobbithunter Bookshop. Zwolle, Netherlands. Dutch and other European editions. (Dutch E, Dutch K A, Frisian [H])
Imbryk. Minsk, Belarus. Belarusian editions. There are two search bars at the top of the page (blank slots followed by an "OK" button). Type "Tolkien" in the bottom one. The on-line presence of Imbryk has been gone for several years. Its present existence is unknown, but given the history of other bookstores in Lukashenko's Belarus it is probably closed. (Belarusian)
Imbryk. Minsk, Belarus. Belarusian editions. There are two search bars at the top of the page (blank slots followed by an "OK" button). Type "Tolkien" in the bottom one. The on-line presence of Imbryk has been gone for several years. Its present existence is unknown, but given the history of other bookstores in Lukashenko's Belarus it is probably closed. (Belarusian)
Indonesia Book Vendor. Surabaya, Indonesia. Indonesian editions with an English interface. (Indonesian)
Indonesia Book Vendor. Surabaya, Indonesia. Indonesian editions with an English interface. (Indonesian)
Knjiga.ba. Tuzla, Bosnia and Hercegovina. Croatian and Serbian editions. (Croatian C, Croatian [H] A, Croatian [S] A, Serbian D, Serbian [H], Serbian [S])
Knjiga.ba. Tuzla, Bosnia and Hercegovina. Croatian and Serbian editions. (Croatian C, Croatian [H] A, Croatian [S] A, Serbian D, Serbian [H], Serbian [S])
Knygų Klubas. Vilnius, Lithuania. Lithuanian editions. (Lithuanian A, Lithuanian B, Lithuanian [H], Lithuanian [S])
Knygų Klubas. Vilnius, Lithuania. Lithuanian editions. (Lithuanian A, Lithuanian B, Lithuanian [H], Lithuanian [S])
Líra Könyv Zrt. Budapest, Hungary. Hungarian editions. (Hungarian E, Hungarian [H], Hungarian [S] B,
Líra Könyv Zrt. Budapest, Hungary. Hungarian editions. (Hungarian E, Hungarian [H], Hungarian [S] B,
Martinus.sk. Bratislava, Slovakia. Slovak and Czech editions. On checkout, you have the option to round your amount due up to the nearest Euro as a donation to a children's charity in Slovakia. You can also increase your donation. (Czech D, Czech [H] B, Czech [S] C, Czech [S] B, Czech [S] C, Slovak A, Slovak B, Slovak C, Slovak [H], Slovak [S])
Martinus.sk. Bratislava, Slovakia. Slovak and Czech editions. On checkout, you have the option to round your amount due up to the nearest Euro as a donation to a children's charity in Slovakia. You can also increase your donation. (Czech D, Czech [H] B, Czech [S] C, Czech [S] B, Czech [S] C, Slovak A, Slovak B, Slovak C, Slovak [H], Slovak [S])
Njuškalo. Zagreb, Croatia. Second-hand sales platform for Croatian and Serbian editions along with other Tolkien memorabilia. (Croatian A, Croatian B, Serbian B)
Njuškalo. Zagreb, Croatia. Second-hand sales platform for Croatian and Serbian editions along with other Tolkien memorabilia. (Croatian A, Croatian B, Serbian B)
Ruslania Books. Helsinki, Finland. Finnish and Russian editions. (Finnish D, Russian K a, Russian K c, Russian K e, Russian K f, Russian [H] E c, Russian [H] E e, Russian [S] C a, Russian [S] C b, Russian [S] C c, Russian [S] C d, Russian [S] F)
Ruslania Books. Helsinki, Finland. Finnish and Russian editions. (Finnish D, Russian K a, Russian K c, Russian K e, Russian K f, Russian [H] E c, Russian [H] E e, Russian [S] C a, Russian [S] C b, Russian [S] C c, Russian [S] C d, Russian [S] F)
Science Fiction Bokhandeln. Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish editions. Were not shipping to the United States in 2021. (Swedish A, Swedish D)
Science Fiction Bokhandeln. Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish editions. Were not shipping to the United States in 2021. (Swedish A, Swedish D)
Second Life Books. Lanesborough, Massachusetts. (Finnish, Hungarian F, Italian [H], Polish E, Thai [S])
Second Life Books. Lanesborough, Massachusetts. (Finnish, Hungarian F, Italian [H], Polish E, Thai [S])
Superbuy. Hong Kong, China. Chinese editions. Ordering from Superbuy is very complicated and involves several steps where you interact with the agents procuring your books. You also have to carefully look at the (free) photos that they provide once they have received the books from their suppliers. About a third of the time in my experience, the book that I've received is a different edition of the book I've ordered (it's still FR, for example, but has a different cover from a different publisher). You have to then explain why the book in their hands is not the book you want. They will then try to find the correct book. At every step of the process, there is also an icon that you use to tip the named individual who performed that step (the purchasing agent, the photographer, the shipping clerk). Overall, I've been happy with the end results, but it takes more work on my part. It is a far cry from the "click, pay, and wait" service that the vast majority of on-line sellers provide. (Chinese [Simplified] H, Chinese [Simplified] I, Chinese [Simplified] L, Chinese [Simplified] O, Chinese [Simplified] P, Chinese [Simplified] Q, Chinese [Simplified] [H] E, Chinese [Simplified] [H] F, Chinese [Simplified] [S] A, Chinese [Simplified] [S] B, Chinese [Traditional] C, Mongolian [Bichig], Mongolian [Bichig] [H]
Superbuy. Hong Kong, China. Chinese editions. Ordering from Superbuy is very complicated and involves several steps where you interact with the agents procuring your books. You also have to carefully look at the (free) photos that they provide once they have received the books from their suppliers. About a third of the time in my experience, the book that I've received is a different edition of the book I've ordered (it's still FR, for example, but has a different cover from a different publisher). You have to then explain why the book in their hands is not the book you want. They will then try to find the correct book. At every step of the process, there is also an icon that you use to tip the named individual who performed that step (the purchasing agent, the photographer, the shipping clerk). Overall, I've been happy with the end results, but it takes more work on my part. It is a far cry from the "click, pay, and wait" service that the vast majority of on-line sellers provide. (Chinese [Simplified] H, Chinese [Simplified] I, Chinese [Simplified] L, Chinese [Simplified] O, Chinese [Simplified] P, Chinese [Simplified] Q, Chinese [Simplified] [H] E, Chinese [Simplified] [H] F, Chinese [Simplified] [S] A, Chinese [Simplified] [S] B, Chinese [Traditional] C, Mongolian [Bichig], Mongolian [Bichig] [H]
Temu. Boston. Chinese editions (Chinese [Simplified] G, Chinese [Simplified] J, Chinese [Simplified] K, Chinese [Simplified] [H] C, Chinese [Simplified] [H] D
Temu. Boston. Chinese editions (Chinese [Simplified] G, Chinese [Simplified] J, Chinese [Simplified] K, Chinese [Simplified] [H] C, Chinese [Simplified] [H] D
Tezeusz.pl. Poland. Polish editions. Their registration software is a little wonky and will not always register your correct country. Double-check before placing an order. Polish J
Tezeusz.pl. Poland. Polish editions. Their registration software is a little wonky and will not always register your correct country. Double-check before placing an order. Polish J
Todocoleccion. Malaga, Spain. Second-hand sales platform for Iberian peninsula editions with English interface. (Basque A)
Todocoleccion. Malaga, Spain. Second-hand sales platform for Iberian peninsula editions with English interface. (Basque A)
The Tolkien Shop. Leiden, Netherlands. A small shop that specializes in Tolkien books and memorabilia. Dutch and European editions with English interface. Several first editions in the catalogue. (Bulgarian A, Bulgarian B, Bulgarian C, Czech B, Dutch D, Dutch F, Dutch G, Dutch I, Dutch J, Dutch K, Dutch L, Dutch [H] A, Dutch [H] B, French A, Frisian, Portuguese [European] A)
The Tolkien Shop. Leiden, Netherlands. A small shop that specializes in Tolkien books and memorabilia. Dutch and European editions with English interface. Several first editions in the catalogue. (Bulgarian A, Bulgarian B, Bulgarian C, Czech B, Dutch D, Dutch F, Dutch G, Dutch I, Dutch J, Dutch K, Dutch L, Dutch [H] A, Dutch [H] B, French A, Frisian, Portuguese [European] A)
Vatera. Budapest, Hungary. Second-hand sales platform for Hungarian editions with English interface. (Hungarian C)
Vatera. Budapest, Hungary. Second-hand sales platform for Hungarian editions with English interface. (Hungarian C)
Wook. Maia, Portugal. Portuguese editions. Most Portuguese on-line shops require a VAT number to make a purchase. (Portuguese [European] C)
Wook. Maia, Portugal. Portuguese editions. Most Portuguese on-line shops require a VAT number to make a purchase. (Portuguese [European] C)
Zuzi Shop. Zagreb, Croatia. New and used Croatian and Serbian editions. (Croatian [H] B, Croatian [S] B)
Zuzi Shop. Zagreb, Croatia. New and used Croatian and Serbian editions. (Croatian [H] B, Croatian [S] B)