I accept Charles Portis donations anywhere in the Albuquerque metro with free pickup — the whole collection: True Grit, Norwood, The Dog of the South, Masters of Atlantis, Gringos, and the posthumous collection Escape Velocity. You don't sort or price anything. Bring it all, including the old hardcovers you might not recognize; the 1968 first edition of True Grit is collectible, so I check everything and the rest funds New Mexico literacy.
Published June 2026 · By Josh Eldred, New Mexico Literacy Project
Portis wrote only a handful of novels, but they earned him one of the most devoted cult followings in American letters — so a Portis shelf is small, beloved, and exactly the kind of thing a collector wants intact. When one gets cleared, most people just want it gone and don't want to throw out the early one. That's exactly what I'm for: I take the whole thing, free, and I check every book.
What I take: all of it
The novels
Norwood (1966), True Grit (1968), The Dog of the South (1979), Masters of Atlantis (1985), and Gringos (1991) — his complete novel-length output, in hardcover, paperback, or tie-in editions.
Collections & the rest
Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany (the posthumous gathering of his journalism, stories, and a play), and any anthology appearances or special editions.
Any condition
Reading copies, signed copies, the John Wayne and Coen brothers True Grit film tie-ins — bring whatever's on the shelf.
You don't have to know what's valuable
Here's the reason to call rather than dump: the 1968 first edition of True Grit (Simon & Schuster) is collectible — especially in fine condition with its dust jacket — and signed copies bring a strong premium. Because Portis has such a devoted following, his other firsts are sought-after too. To most people a 1968 True Grit just looks like an old hardcover, and it gets given away for a dollar. You don't have to learn the points — bring the whole shelf and I'll recognize a true first, protect it, and keep the reading copies in circulation, with any hidden value identified and put to work.
Why donate instead of selling it yourself
For a confirmed 1968 True Grit first, selling on your own can pay. For the rest — paperbacks and reading copies — listing each book is more work than it's individually worth. Donating handles it in one call: no research, no pricing, no listings, no shipping, free pickup at your door, reading copies to new readers, and a genuine first recognized and supporting New Mexico literacy. Here's where donated books go.
How free pickup works
Call or text 702-496-4214 (or schedule online), tell me roughly how much there is and where you are, and we set a time. I come to you and load it all. I cover Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, the East Mountains, and the surrounding metro, and I handle whole-house and estate cleanouts regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I donate Charles Portis books in Albuquerque?
Right here — free pickup anywhere in the metro for the whole collection: True Grit, Norwood, The Dog of the South, Masters of Atlantis, Gringos. Call or text 702-496-4214.
Is an old True Grit worth anything?
The 1968 first (Simon & Schuster) is collectible, especially jacketed or signed; Portis's cult following keeps his firsts in demand. It looks ordinary — bring it all and let me check.
Paperbacks and tie-ins too?
Yes — worn paperbacks, book-club editions, and the film tie-in covers. Just don't throw any of it out first.
Cite This Guide
Eldred, J. (June 2026). Donate Charles Portis Books in Albuquerque — Free Pickup. New Mexico Literacy Project.
https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/donate-charles-portis-books-albuquerque
Licensed under CC BY 4.0.