Getting Started in Book Collecting or Creating a Home or Office Library

What determines the price of old antique law books?

1. Condition...
   1. Both covers are present.
   2. All pages are present.
   3. Binding is intact.
   4. After you determine that everything is there that should be, next look for the presence of anything that shouldn't be there.
   5. Handwritten notes in a book by a previous user/owner can, in some cases, actually add to the value rather than detract from it, depending on who made the notes or events surrounding the notes. For example, a book used in a landmark case can be very valuable even if a clerk or assistant made the notes.
2. Rarity (or availability)...
   1. Numbers published.
   2. A book not seen on the open market in some time.
   3. There can be huge differences in the First, Second or Third Edition of a book.
   4. The Publisher - A publisher that was only in business for a short period of time.
3. Market Demand...
   1. Often even a book that was published in very large numbers will command a high price because everyone has one in their library and no one is willing to part with it.
   2. Author - The author may have written the best book on a subject matter, or may have penned only one or two books in his/her lifetime.
   3. Has one sold recently for a high price?
4. Subject Matter or Content...
   1. Some topics are more popular than others.
   2. Many subject matters of law are historical because they just don't exist today (example: slavery).
   3. Historical significance.

Your library: An Endless Universe of Knowledge and Culture

When looking at the latest technological advances brought by the Internet, it is hard to believe that we will ever want to open a book and read it. The virtual world has offered to us immense opportunities in terms of knowledge, people from different fields welcoming the possibility of online research. Still, that great feeling of browsing through a book cannot be certainly surpassed by the Internet technology. There are many strong arguments, especially since there are so many passionate book collectors out there, all looking to improve their collection and build the most incredible library.

Have you ever entered a library and felt that soft smell of books?

Well, that aspect can never be replaced by electronic libraries, as there are so many people enjoying both the touch and the smell of books. Books are particularly valued by collectors and they all find reading a book an extremely pleasant activity. No matter if they are interested in collecting classic literature, fiction or old law books, they all share the same passion and they all find the concept of a library as fascinating. Reading a book should not be regarded with nostalgia and we should not let ourselves impressed so much by the new technology; books still represent an importance source of information and they have their specific advantages.

However, the Internet can help you discover a lot of useful information on the subject of book collecting. You can find out how to recognize a first edition and how much should you pay for one, how to shield your books from tears and scratches not to mention what are the best ideas for building your library. The Internet technology can bring you the entire universe of book collecting at your feet and you can certainly learn how to become a book collector. From the first time you buy a book, you are on the way towards becoming a veritable book collector. In order to transform yourself into an ardent collector, you can use the Internet and reveal the actual value of collectible books.

Let’s face it, how many of us have enjoyed opening up a book and reading it through the very last pages? How many of us have entered a library and took a deep breath, feeling infatuated with the smells of the books sitting arranged on the bookshelf? By enjoying books, we reach new levels of human emotions and probably one of the deepest levels of knowledge. It does not matter if we define ourselves as book collectors; the moment you start thinking about building your own home or office library, you certainly are one. Throughout time, there have been many book collectors and they have all left behind amazing collections, becoming true innovators when it comes to the accumulating of culture and knowledge.

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. 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. Online, you can find productive insight and plenty of inspiration about how you can establish and categorize your library, not to mention how to restore those rare books you try so hard to find. At the moment when you make your mind to set up a library, you should also consider the importance of picking out the right furniture, including the different types of shelves you have available.

What you have to understand is that the Internet can help you face all the challenges brought by setting up a library. Creative and innovative ideas on how to display your books are widely advertised all over the Internet, ranging from the simple putting on shelves to complex and elegant case presentations. It can also teach you the various ways you can categorize your library, depending on the title, author, subject and even position on the bookshelf. Booklovers can greatly benefit from the World Wide Web, communicating the joy of reading and collecting books to the entire world; their passion of books represents a true appreciation of set values and a slap on the cheek for those who dare to say that book reading days are over. While it may be true that we live in an over-technological world and we depend highly on the Internet, it is just as true that there are many booklovers and collectors out there, all demonstrating a genuine belief in their hobby.

You know that you might be addicted to books without really knowing it. In addition, if you are, that means that you would do almost anything to find that book that you like and show to everyone your deepest interests. If you are wondering how to bring your passion for books out on the open, then one main advice falls into that category: read as much as you can and protect all of your books like they were priceless possessions. Take care of your book collection but without being over-cautious. You have surely heard about those who own a fabulous book collection and still refuse to read one single book for the fear of hurting it; at the same time, you definitely know about those who buy a book in duplicate, one to read and other to be added to their collections. As you probably fall in the regular category, the one that loves to buy books, read them and enter to the collection, you might be interested to find out how you can protect your books and make sure that your library is well taken care of.

All right, so you’ve bought a book and you plan to read it, then to add it to the already existing collection. Refrain from writing on the book and if you absolutely have to, then please use a pencil and an eraser. Do not eat or drink when you read, as you increase your chances of hurting your book collection. Handle your book with care and do not fold its margins; read it without hurting the binding and you will be perfectly satisfied with the way your library looks. In addition, most importantly, after you are through reading, put it on the shelf. The shelving is another significant aspect, connected to the hobby of book collecting. Books have to be put on a shelf in a vertical position, with plenty of space to be taken and put back in, without breaking the binding. Anyone knows that two worst enemies of books are heat and moisture; this is why you should always build your library in a room with a moderate temperature and if possible, well aired. Sunlight can also hurt your book collection so try to protect them as much as possible. Also, you might want to protect your collection from kids (easy access, rapid breaking) and certainly from your house pets (both cats and dogs can scratch and chew valuable additions of your library). In short, you have to put in a lot of effort to create and maintain the perfect library, protecting your books and appreciating them to their sincere value.

Then you can really call yourself a genuine book collector!