Right now i try to keep every book on the same shelf around the same height, and have them in there pretty tight. If youre interested in learning about book collecting and buying rare books, abebooks has an excellent set of guides here. Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing. Learn how advertising can help determine printing version of rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer. We have thousands of rare and antique treasures brought to you by our network of trusted sellers from all around the world.
Most major book publishers had one or two staff artists that created art work for the covers in an attempt to sell more books. In the cambridge history of the book in britain, volume iii, 14001557 cambridge. A new chapter for rare book collecting books the guardian. Only books with some acknowledged importance will have a consumer demand that creates market value and a. Alibris is one of the premier rare and outofprint book sites on the internet. Gia rare book collection prior to the purchase of the sinkankas collection, the library was also collecting, and continues to collect, rare books, magazines and journals, original jewelers drawings, mineralogical stamps, postcards, etc. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition. In addition to operating an independent used and rare bookstore for 10 years, he belongs to the antiquarian booksellers association of america, and has served as vice. You will find that the entire adventure of collecting can be much more enjoyable if you focus on what matters to you. However, some universal truths are present in the book collecting world. Travels in the book world first published in 1997 is the first book i immediately reread. The mcgill library rare books and special collections began collecting rare materials in the 1850s, and through gift and purchase the holdings now constitute rich and highly diverse research collections. Good and fair books may have some writing, wear on the binding and a few dogeared pages.
It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular book s condition. Abaa antiquarian booksellers association of america. Stock books come in varying sizes, from very small to very large, and can contain from 8 to 32 doublesided pages, usually with interleaving to protect the stamps on opposite pages from catching on each other. Rare books especially old, rare books deserve and require special care. What goes into a book when its written, even the most controversial content, wont act to a book s physical detriment. The hinges are a books weakest point so prone to problems, especially if the book is handled or shelved carelessly. In the cambridge history of the book, volume iv, 15571696 cambridge. You find a dusty box full of books in the corner of the attic. Due to its very limited numbers, in our time is considered one of the rare books for book collectors around the world. The best websites to buy collectible and first edition books. Decide what types of condition and completeness are within your price range, and pick the very best available.
Rare books, learn how to find, buy, and collect them. The rarefied world of rare book collecting is not a dying. Whether youre an experienced book collector, or new to collecting books, biblio is your source for not just uncommonly good books but also a wealth of information about collecting antiquarian and rare books, too. Learn tips for cataloging your book collection in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer. Apr 16, 2008 ad in the back of a book help to determine its age. Thus first printed in october 1925 with no other information and the date 1925 on the actual title page generally means that the book is a first edition. Rare book and special collections reading room library of. It was founded in 2002 in san francisco by rare book collector bruce mckinney with the aim of offering hard to find information about book collecting to the public.
From a start of providing a subscription database of bibliographic records, the company. Collecting vintage paperback books vintage bookseller. Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given collector. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed. Our guide to book collecting covers many of the basic elements of book. Maremagnum maremagnum is based in italy, and lists over 8 million books and ephemera for sale. We specialize in making it easier for you to get the books you need. What goes into a book when its read or shelved, however, is another story, with as many potentially hazardous plot twists as hopedfor happy endings. So should i keep the books in tight rows, or give them a little space to breath.
If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a gold. Explore a collection of some of the finest and most desirable rare books and antiquarian books from more than five centuries. The rarefied world of rare book collecting is not a dying art. The best websites to buy collectible and first edition. How to identify, collect, and sell rare books lifehacker. Mar 28, 2012 a new chapter for rare book collecting this article is more than 8 years old. Raptis rare books collection of rare book resources and glossary of terms. We have created this series of web pages as a basic guide to starting a collection and understanding the terminology of booksellers. Book sellers categorize the condition of their stock with the same set of terms.
Between the two collections, there are now approximately 25,000 items. Buying and selling rare books rare book collections. A work whose authenticity or authorship is in doubt. I pulled out my books to clean and noticed one of my older rare books pages are like wavy now.
The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is called a bibliophile book collecting can be easy and inexpensive. Ad in the back of a book help to determine its age. In the early eighteenth century giacomo leonis translation into english of andrea palladios i quattro libri dellarchitettura first published in 1570. Livre rare book livre rare book searches 497 bookshops with over 3. All of these collections offer scholarly documentation about the western and american traditions of life and learning. While the criminal personalities vary, rarebook thieves all share something in common. The unique materials of the rare book and special collections division of the library of congress, now totaling over 800,000 items, include books, broadsides, pamphlets, theater playbills, prints, posters, photographs, and medieval and renaissance manuscripts. Use the search box above to find fond treasures from your childhood or that one book that has escaped your collection thus far. In this age of kindle and nook, when used book stores are rapidly disappearing and real estate is at a record premium, one might assume that the world of rare book collecting should be declining. What goes into a book when its read or shelved, however, is another story, with as many potentially hazardous plot. So you want to start a book collection but not sure where to start. About this collection rare book selections digital.
This french site is also available in english, spanish, portuguese, and russian. Like collecting other collectibles, do not treat this as an investment although the rare and scare titles do tend to increase in value. Book values determining how much a used or rare book might be worth. A mans bookshelf is a map of his mind and memories. Abookmans book grading guide abookman, a book man, book. At the center is thomas jeffersons book collection, which was sold to congress in 1815. The humanities and social sciences and in particular art and architecture, canadiana, history. A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books. Book dealing was once, as graham greene told me, a treasure hunt. Additional or supplementary material generally found at the end of a book.
If cared for properly, rare books can provide their owners with a beautiful collection that will continue to grow in value as time goes. Thick hardbound books also tend to have their pages sag downward in the middle even if they are sitting level on a shelf. While all copies of the first edition fulfill the second criterion of rarity substantive importance, this copy also fulfills the. We have created this series of web pages as a basic guide to starting a collection and. Rare book cafe is the only livestreamed program about antiquarian books, ephemera, and more. Abebooks feature archives articles on rare books and collecting, authors, publishers, interesting. It is a project of the florida antiquarian book fair. A champion of the physical book, richard davies from offers advice to anyone thinking about collecting rare books it might just be me, but i believe far fewer physical books are.
The book lincoln and obama have in common clark evans other. What goes into a book when its written, even the most controversial content, wont act to a books physical detriment. A first edition of to kill a mockingbird may be half the price in a wrecked dust jacket, but its still a wrecked dust jacket in a world where condition matters. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. The divisions collection of nearly 5,700 incunabula fifteenthcentury. Art, architecture and design artists books also known as livres dartiste provide the collector with an excellent opportunity to own original works produced specifically for that book and signed by an important artist. If rare and antique book collecting has always intrigued you, jonathan smalter, owner of yesterdays muse books in webster, new york, offers some sound advice on the topic. Book condition determining and describing the condition of a used or rare book. Is is, however, very well written and engaging enough that i read the entire book. While all copies of the first edition fulfill the second criterion of rarity substantive importance, this copy also fulfills the fifth association, having belonged to two important individuals. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is called a bibliophile. Collecting rare books is at once a hobby, a passion, and an art form.
C walking in the footsteps of american writers kim roberts. Details of their journey are abundant and informative and prompted me to make a trip to royal books in downtown baltimore in search of a heritage press edition of tom sawyer. As a verb, the process that secures the pages or sections of a publication to keep. A term indicating a given book is in the same condition as when originally published. Note that any defects such as missing pages, loose pages, markings, etc. A new chapter for rare book collecting this article is more than 8 years old.
Sep 04, 2015 collecting rare books is at once a hobby, a passion, and an art form. Shaken used to describe a book whose pages have become loose in their. When searching on its important to find copies that match the book in your possession as accurately as possible. The most essential factor in determining rarity is the books intrinsic importance, or how important the book is considered to be in its field. The books hinges are beginning to separate from each other via a tear. But with about 4 months of intensive collecting and study under my belt, i found it not to have too much new or really useful information. Loose or broken hinges are very common on old books. Advanced book exchange, abebooks, the worlds largest online marketplace for books, lists over 80 million new, used, rare, and outofprint books from more than,500 booksellers.
Completeness is a key standard of book collectingthe idea is that a book. Why hannah mather crockers observations on the real rights of women matters at 200 eileen hunt botting a literary guide to washington, d. The mission of the abaa is to promote ethical standards and professionalism in the antiquarian book trade, to encourage the collecting and preservation of rare and antiquarian books and related materials, to support educational programs and research into the study of rare books, and to facilitate collegial relations between booksellers. Yet rare books are a great example of getting what you pay for. I bought this book as i was starting into book collecting. Our guide to book collecting covers many of the basic elements of book collecting, from what to collect to caring for your book collection. The process is filled with nuances, and there are perhaps as many ways to go about forming a collection as there are collectors. A book in as new or fine condition has very little wear, with no loose pages, stains or writing. The rare book hub formerly known as the americana exchange is a website for the buying, selling and collecting of rare and antiquarian books.
This course is intended for serious collectors who would like to learn more about the current american rare book scene. Learn how advertising can help determine printing version of rare books in this free book collecting video from a. In a nutshell, a foxed books pages have some spotting, ranging from sort of a beige color to a rusty brown like a foxs footprints, or maybe its reddish. Explore a collection of some of the finest and most desirable rare books and. Dealers must go through a book page by page to make sure that. Rare books for sale, buy antique books from alibris. Its sellers are located worldwide, and the website is available in italian, french. The collections housed in the rare book and special collections division amount to nearly 800,000 books, encompassing nearly all eras and subjects maintained in well over 100 separate collections.
Abebooks has been part of the rare book world since going live in 1996. Rare and antiquarian books is a broad category, encompassing manuscripts, medieval handwritten pages that were bound at some later time. Here is the standard grading system used for all books and magazines available on. Well known to book collectors and booklovers, our site is an excellent resource for discovering a rough value of an old book.
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