Related Resources • Family Bibles • Genealogy Search Tips • Historical Newspapers • Vintage Postcards

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Online auction sites such as eBay are one of today's most popular Internet pastimes. Sellers submit items for sale, accompanied by a short description and often a photo. Auctions last for a pre-determined period of time (several days on average), during which potential buyers can submit their bids for the item online. At the end of the auction the seller and the winning bidder contact each other to arrange payment and delivery. 

How does this relate to genealogy? Just about anything related to family history can be found for sale on eBay and other online auction sites. Books, city directories, diaries, family bibles, genealogy software and CD-ROMs, maps, military memorabilia, old newspapers, photos, postcards, yearbooks and even family group sheets are all offered on a regular basis. You can add reference resources to your genealogy library or learn more about your family through visual representations of their time and place in history. You may even be lucky enough to find specific references to your ancestors, such as maps which document the family homestead, obituary notices or family photos.

If you're new to eBay and online auctions, then follow these simple guidelines to get started:

1. Use the search engine to search for items related to your individual surnames or for items from a specific place or time period. Be sure to select the box which allows you to search both the titles and descriptions! You can also use the advanced search feature to exclude certain entries, which can be very important when you're searching for a common name (e.g. on a search for the surname RICE you could exclude such terms as cooker, anne, jerry, krispies, paper, etc.). Check eBay's search tips for even more search ideas.
    
2. Be sure to search for common misspellings of your surnames, place names and terms such as genealogy (try searching for geneology or geneaology).
    
3. As an alternative to search, try the browse feature to explore specific categories of items such as historical memorabilia, vintage clothing and accessories, maps and atlases, militaria, antique photos and more. There is even a section on eBay devoted specifically to genealogy.
    
4. Check the seller's feedback rating before bidding on an item to be sure they don't have a history of complaints against them.
    
5. Don't get carried away by the bidding! Set a limit and stick to it. eBay even offers a proxy bidding service. You enter your maximum amount and your bid will be automatically increased by the minimum required bid amount whenever someone outbids you - until you have reached your maximum amount. If the item is really important to you, then check in on it right before it is due to end so you can make a final decision and put in a last-minute bid if desired.

For Further Research:

Using Online Auctions to Augment Your Family History Research