For a set, one frame does almost all the work, and most sellers take a different one.
The shot that sells
The spines, lined up, numbers readable. A buyer completing a run is looking for specific volumes and this answers them instantly.
The shot that prevents the dispute
The publication page, readable — publisher, imprint, language, printing.
The list
- Spines in order, numbers legible
- Front cover of volume one, square on
- Publication page, close and sharp
- Page edges, for yellowing and foxing
- Any spine crease or cover bend, close
- Dust jackets, where the edition had them
- For figures: every face of the box, and the contents
Light
Even and indirect. Gloss covers reflect; keep the light off-axis and watch for your own reflection in the plastic of a figure box.
For spine creasing, raking light along the row shows what flat light hides.
Counting on camera
If a set has gaps, photograph it so the gaps are visible rather than describing them. A buyer who can count the spines trusts the rest of the listing. Common mistakes.
What goes wrong
Shooting a stack from above so no numbers are readable, using a publisher's cover art, and photographing a faded run in warm light so the fade is invisible.
Questions people ask
How do I photograph twenty volumes?
Spines in a row, then a few covers, then the publication page of one. That is enough.
Should I open a sealed figure box?
No. Photograph the outside carefully and say it is sealed.
Does spine fading show in photographs?
Yes, in daylight, across a row. Which is exactly why it should be shot that way.
More: selling anime and manga, storing them.