Books

AbeBooks 2024 gift guide

Various items from our gift guide: Phaidon's The Art Book, a vintage luggage tag from Hong Kong, and more.

There is something undeniably beautiful about watching a loved one open the perfect gift, especially when that perfect gift comes from you.

Luckily, we at AbeBooks consider ourselves something of an expert when it comes to those ‘where-did-you-find-this’ moments. From any book, in any edition, in any condition (think signed or out-of-print) to paper collectibles of all kinds (we’re talking vintage airline posters, special editions of their favorite magazine) – and everything in between – you can find it on AbeBooks. With such a wide selection from around the globe, you are sure to find something unique and thoughtful for everyone on your list - including the men that are hardest to shop for and the best friend that has everything. Plus, many holiday gifts fall under $50.

So dive into our curated lists below, and don’t forget to indulge the hardworking gift-giver as well – that means you!

For your sister | For your brother | For mom | For dad | For your S.O. | For your co-worker | For you

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For the sister

...that appreciates the finer things in life
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Wall art no one else will have
Surprise her with a unique piece that compliments her latest design fixation.
Shop art
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Books worthy of a beautiful bookshelf
Is she assembling a picture-perfect bookshelf? We’ve got what she needs.
Shop beautiful books
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Old Hollywood collectibles
Why recreate the glamour and elegance, when original film collectibles start at $10?
Shop film collectibles
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Luxury coffee table books
These coffee table books do way more than look good, so read away!
Shop coffee table books
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Vintage luggage labels for her weekend bag
She may just be headed up the road, but she’ll look every bit the international jetsetter.
Shop luggage labels
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A special copy of her favorite book
Turn her annual read into a prized possession.
Shop books

For the brother

...who's hardest to shop for
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A comic of his favorite superhero
The true Marvel fan has a copy of the comic where it all started.
Shop comics
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A cult book
When we think of cult lit, we think (1) passionate following (2) life-changing and (3) a tad obscure.
Shop cult books
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A very special baseball card
Get him the prized baseball card he thought he’d never see again.
Shop baseball cards
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Their favorite sports book
From the 1936 Berlin Olympics to the football fields of Texas – you can’t knock a great sports book.
Shop sports books
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The book that inspired their favorite sci-fi
Dune, Blade Runner, The War of Worlds - the list goes on and on!
Shop sci-fi
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A vintage ski poster
Help them grow out of their dorm posters and into something a bit more sophisticated.
Shop ski posters

For the parent

...who treats hosting like an art form
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An old-school housekeeping book
Some of the hallmarks of good homemaking don’t change. The others offer a good laugh.
Shop housekeeping books
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Vintage recipe cards
Get mom a tried-and-true recipe card collection. Just avoid the savory Jell-O era.
Shop recipe collections
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A good food memoir
Otherwise known as a ‘foodoir’ – and no, they’re not all set around France and French cuisine.
Shop food memoirs
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A cookbook with provenance
Get their favorite cook’s go-to cookbook – better yet, their favorite cookbook, signed by the cook.
Shop cookbooks
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An art deco cocktail book
Take their home bar cart from amateur to professionnel.
Shop cocktail books
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Craft books to keep the mini hosts occupied
The host will appreciate something to keep the kids and grandkids at bay until everything’s ready.
Shop activity books

For the parent

...who lives down memory lane
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A treasured children’s book
Imagine their face when they open the exact edition of their favorite childhood bedtime read.
Shop children's books
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Vintage band poster
Times may have changed, but dad's love of Pink Floyd is eternal.
Shop band posters
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A modern first edition
A book that will take a proud place on their shelf, and may even earn them a pretty penny one day
Shop first editions
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Rare sheet music
Give them a snapshot of life at the turn of the 20th century with this relic of entertainment.
Shop sheet music
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An illustrated copy of A Christmas Carol
Add to an annual family tradition with the novella that defined the modern concept of Christmas.
Shop A Christmas Carol
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A travel book with memories
Let them tell you all the places they’ve been and what makes them so memorable - that's part of the magic.
Shop travel books

For the significant other

...who's seen every movie, ever
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A poster from a favorite classic movie
Give their living room that retro cinema vibe with an iconic movie poster.
Shop movie posters
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Film ephemera for the real movie buff
Are they a West Side Story fan or an original-script-with-handwritten-notes West Side Story fan?
Shop film ephemera
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Collectible lobby cards
Part movie poster, part movie star photo, lobby cards helped promote the movies a theater offered.
Shop lobby cards
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Stunning film stills and photographs
These photos captured every detail of the movie-making process, making them prized by collectors.
Shop film photos
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The best of literature turned film
You just can’t claim to love a movie until you’ve read the book that inspired it.
Shop books
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A map of their go-to movie’s setting
From Sleepless in Seattle to the Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth (a.k.a. New Zealand)
Shop maps

For the co-worker

...who's getting a White Elephant gift
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A special edition of a timeless magazine
Covers of The New Yorker magazine have always been a work of art.
Shop magazines
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A flower print
Help them add a little charm to their kitchen nook or the space above their key rack.
Shop flower prints
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A book with meaning
What moves them? Whether it’s the environment or community, there’s a book to fuel their passion.
Shop books
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A book to make them laugh
A good laugh can be priceless. Luckily, many of these fall under the $20 gift budget.
Shop weird books
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A beautifully bound book
Whether they read it, decorate with it, or use it to project general bookish-ness – they can decide.
Shop beautiful books
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A travel postcard for their desk
Gift them a mini escape from that Excel spreadsheet they’ve looking at for the last week.
Shop postcards

For you!

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A lithograph print
A lithograph is a great way to own a piece from a famous artist on a budget.
Shop lithographs
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The next book in that guilty-pleasure series
If you’re on the fence, just blame it on the friend that’s definitely waiting to read it after you.
Shop books
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An art book
Try Phaidon’s The Art Book, an easy-to-read A to Z guide that makes art accessible.
Shop art books
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Your favorite author’s favorite book
You’ve read all their books, now why not explore the works that first inspired them?
Shop association copies
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A self-investment with self-help
The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect and plan steps for new year improvements.
Shop self-help
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A poster from your favorite place
Personalize your home with art that also says a little about you.
Shop posters