The history behind a thing worth keeping.
Lore is built by collectors, for collectors. Every edition in the marketplace was added by a member. Every price is a sale that actually happened. The registry keeps track of which copy is which, and when you buy through the Vault, your money stays with Lore until the book is in your hands.
- 01The marketplace
Every special edition, catalogued.
Sprayed edges, numbered firsts, signed sets from Fairyloot, Illumicrate, Goldsboro, OwlCrate, LitJoy and retailer exclusives — each with its identifying points, print run and a live index built only from real sold prices. Never asking prices.
Browse the marketplace → - 02Your library
Track what you own and what it's worth.
Add editions to your library and watch the collection value move with the index. Record what you paid, keep private notes, and share a public library at your own address if you like.
Open your library → - 03Register and verify
Prove the copy is what it says it is.
Document a copy through the in-app camera — five mandated shots, live capture only, timestamped. Submit it and the Lore team reviews it against the marketplace and grades it on the Lore Scale. A pass issues a permanent registry number and a public certificate.
Read the Lore Scale → - 04The Vault
Protected buying and selling.
List a documented copy with its own photos. Buyers pay Lore, not the seller. The seller ships tracked; once the book arrives safely, the payout releases — automatically if all is quiet, early if the buyer says so, or after a decision if there's a dispute.
The Vault rules →
- 1Seller lists a documented copy, fronted by its own protocol photo.
- 2Buyer pays Lore through Stripe; the delivery address is captured.
- 3Seller ships tracked within 3 business days (signature over A$50) and enters tracking.
- 4Carrier reports delivery — or the buyer confirms — and the inspection window opens.
- 5Buyer inspects. Release early, do nothing, or open a dispute.
- 6Payout transfers to the seller; the registry entry and library item move to the buyer.
+Is Lore verification a guarantee?
No — it's the Lore team's considered opinion, from photographs, that a copy matches its marketplace entry and grade at the time of review. It's the strongest signal available short of holding the book, and it travels with the copy's registry number. Buyers still inspect on arrival, and the inspection window after delivery exists for exactly that.
+Who holds the money?
Lore does, on our Stripe platform balance, from the moment a buyer pays until the sale is settled. Sellers are paid out only after delivery is confirmed and the inspection window closes clean. Lore never sees card numbers — Stripe handles payment and seller identity.
+What are the fees?
Sellers pay 10% of the sale price (GST included), deducted from the payout. The sale price itself carries no GST when a private collector sells their own books. Buyers currently pay nothing on top of the price. The marketplace, shelf, registry and Lore Scale are free.
+Why can't I upload photos from my gallery?
Because the photos are evidence. Live capture through the app means each shot is of the copy in front of you, at that moment, and can't be swapped for a stock image or a different copy. It's what makes a Lore listing trustworthy.
+What happens if a parcel goes missing?
Sellers must ship tracked, and with signature on delivery over A$50. If the carrier confirms delivery to the order address (with a signature where required), the seller is protected. Without that record, the seller bears the loss. Lore checks the carrier's status hourly, so nobody has to babysit a tracking page.
+Where do the prices come from?
Recorded sales — eBay sold listings transcribed from Terapeak, sales on the Vault itself, and verified entries logged by the Lore team. Everything is in Australian dollars; overseas sales are converted at the ECB rate for the day they sold, and the original figure is kept on the record.
+Is this live?
Yes. The Vault is open for real trading: payments run through Stripe, buyers are charged, sellers are paid. Lore is a small team and still early — if something looks off, tell us: hello@lorevault.au.