Did you know that some hardback books bought recently from High Street stores can be resold for up to 30 times their original price? The secret is to pick up a first edition of a book which subsequently wins an industry prize. According to Gocompare.com, you could have bought the first edition of all 15 Man Booker prize winning books for £262.85. They would now be worth £2,345. Getting the books signed makes them worth even more. But even unsigned copies can bring big profits. A first edition of 2009 winner Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel would be worth £600 today. Back in 2009, you’d have paid £18.99 for it.

The key is research. Develop an eye for which books are likely to be nominated, and it’s possible to build a profitable portfolio. As with any investments, some won’t bear fruit, but it can certainly be an interesting and lucrative pastime, with very little risk.