First Editions

Golden Times of Book Collecting – Past or Present?

How much do you like to read? Are you one of those persons who just won’t let books out of their hands and read them until the last pages? And how about collecting? Where do you stand on that? When you consider adding a new book to your collection, do you go through all the possible trouble to find the best and most valuable copy, a first edition maybe? The answers to all these questions might prove that you have a passion for books and even more importantly that you are a genuine book collector.

Why are first editions so important to those who collect books? Well, because they are unique, being printed from the first setting of type. There is never going to be a similar copy and all the afterwards editions will have major changes, including in the printing types and also of the content of the book. There might be a new section added, an improved foreword and one might even encounter significant modifications of the book content. As opposed to a first edition, a first book is the very 1st book written by a specific author. These differences are well-known by experienced book collectors and they represent important elements that must be acknowledged by beginners. One should learn about the meaning of collecting first editions, especially when it comes to those that are in perfect or incredible condition.

No matter the subject discussed upon book collecting, somehow it still seems to revolve around the same old thing, the condition of the book. Here, one might chance upon slight divergences of opinions. There are certain book lovers and collectors out there for whom the condition of the book is the most essential aspect, preferring not to add a certain book to their already large collection if that book does not comply with the set standards. They might be willing to make an exception if the book in question is extremely rare of valuable, but as it was already mentioned this would only be an exception. On the other hand, there are certain book collectors that will purchase the book no matter the state, being more interested in the content hidden by that book. Some of them are aware that it might take too long to find a similar and yet in better condition copy, being perfectly satisfied with the copy they already bought.

And if we are really going to talk about book collecting and books conditions, what does it take for a book to be considered in perfect condition? How do you define the various categories for the condition of books if not basing your opinions entirely on personal experience and being subjective? The truth is that there is not standard code to define the conditions of books, even though many attempts have been made. Still, the condition of the book depends extremely on its general aspects, possible flaws like missing pages, tears or stains, not to mention the personal impression. After all, deciding if the book is an acceptable condition is more of a personal decision than anything else.

The condition of the book is subjected not only to personal opinions but also to the passing of time. There are certain books that will never be found in perfect condition, however hard and long one would search for them. They are simply too old to stand the test of time and maybe they were never kept in perfect condition. As time passes, a lot of books are constantly used and reused by other generations. One cannot expect for books to sit peacefully in the library without being used. Except for truly rare copies, which are seldom touched and hardly ever taken out of display, regular books (no matter how rare or valuable they are) stand substantial usage. Book collectors have to enquire about all these details as it is extremely important for them to find a book in an almost perfect condition. They have to pay attention even to the smallest details and make an incredible effort to have a collection in a perfect condition as possible. Even from when they begin to dedicate their time as book collectors, they are taught to avoid purchasing cheap copies and always look for the highest standards of quality.

A lot of people believe that all first editions are extremely valuable and rare to find. That is actually not true, as there are a lot of first editions that simply do not pose an interest. There are plenty of old books, including religious, self-help and technology subjects which are not demanded and most importantly considered as valuable. Not every rare book is valuable and vice-versa, not every valuable book is as rare as everyone believes it to be. And as the Internet technology develops more and more, it is even harder to believe that we cannot find the books we are interested in. We now have access to resources that will enable us to find the rarest and scarcest books out there, not to mention at truly incredible prices.

Even if you find the book that you were interested in, how do you know for sure that you are paying the right price and you are not tricked? The truth is that you do not know for certain, at least not until you have gained some years of experience in the field. Then you will know how to determine the actual value of a book, even if there is not established price that represents that value. The one thing that you have to remember is that books are appraised by a multitude of details including the condition of the book. You will also have to pay attention to the current trends of the market, including the supply and demand aspects that play a huge role. Yes, it is true that the value of books increases as time passes. Still, this aspect depends on a whole range of factors and sometimes you might not get the expected results.

Collecting books is not something that can be done that brings enormous profits and most of those who do it are in for the personal rewards offered, mainly in terms of knowledge and culture. The pleasure obtained from book collecting can be compared a few things in life and it is one of the greatest delights given to the human mind. It is far from being just a competition, being a highly prestigious and incredibly rewarding hobby. It can be seen as one of the most eminent collecting hobbies, particularly if we take our time and consider how many fine and beautiful books exist out there. The golden age of book collecting was somewhere around the 19th century when more and more people discovered their inner passion for books. Today, we are not so far from those times as there are a lot of people establishing themselves as firm and dedicated book collectors.
 

First Editions

• Book Collecting - Book collecting has brought immense pleasure and comfort for many people; it has opened new dimensions for them and offered the greatest diversity of knowledge. Books are both beautiful and delightful, containing the very essence of the human spirit and everyone that has a wonderful home library knows that.
• Old Books - Passing from the famous book collectors such as Henry VI to the present, modern times the most important issue that arises for book collectors is the way books are kept and protected.
• Library - Collectors need to know what it takes to build up a library and most importantly how to arrange the available space in order to provide a visual delight not only for them and but also for all their friends.