Selling Pages from Books?

[literaryconundrums]

I ordered a print from a seller quite a while ago, and, to my (pleasant) surprise, received an actual page from an old Harper's Weekly magazine. I actually liked it much better than a traditional "print". Originally, I assumed the seller could only do this because the work was in the public domain, but I have seen other people online selling illustrated pages from books that are most definitely not in the public domain.

I have a ton of books I could do this with, but does ebay allow it? Is it even legal? 

[reallynicestamps · Accepted solution]

Yes. Breaking books and magazines is both common and legal. 

It's also done with calendars.

I was researching Vargas pinups the other day and most of those offered were either from Esquire or from calendars.

[literaryconundrums]

If I get into this, are there a couple good examples of seller pages I can look at to see how they do their listings/descriptions/pricing? 

My main concern, I guess, would be buyers not knowing they are pages from books until they receive the item and then complaining. Also the verbiage to use for search terms.

Thanks for the info & for your speedy reply 🙂

[alltheprettylittlethings]

I've never heard of  anyone doing this so I looked for an answer under copyright violations, etc. on the web and ran across this answer from an attorney:

"Under a "first sale" type of analysis, in general, under U.S. Copyright law, you are free to cut pages out of a lawfully purchased physical copy of a book and do anything to dispose of those pages you wish, without alteration of the underlying work, in any manner you see fit without violating any intellectual property laws. In other words, you could sell them, fold them into paper airplanes, burn them, etc."

So, it appears that the original page can be sold - it just cannot be duplicated and sold. 

Interesting. 😊

[reallynicestamps]

Not a great example  but:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/154027286488

[literaryconundrums]

I did see some of those attorney replies! Seems like the general consensus is "yes". Some said be cautious, but not many.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

It's very common, lots of sellers do this. 

[mmadigan]

Do a search on print ad.