Trends in modern book collecting ken lopez bookseller. John helps us identify the methods various publishers use to signify the first edition of a book, the different types of number lines, and a few noteworthy first editions of certain titles. This year, ucl special collections is hosting the anthony davis book collecting prize, to be awarded to a current student studying towards a degree at a londonbased university. You will find an ever growing list of book titles and their. If the book is very, very popular, second editions or reprint editions may be. Collecting first editions is a kind of madness telegraph. John carters abc for book collectors is one of the best guides a free. A true first edition should have no editorial changes. The reference guide a pocket guide to the identification of first editions is an excellent pocket guide for the book buyer, the book collector, and the book seller who is interested in knowing the number lines. Introduction to collecting literary first editions. Reviewed in the united states on march 24, 2000 for those of you interested in first edition books, this guide book is helpful.
Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition. Book collecting book collecting styles of collecting. First editions and signed copies are two cornerstones of book collecting, but, once you have delved into the world of used books, the golden rule is condition, condition, condition. Now published bimonthly, it is an invaluable resource for book collectors. Where a trade edition may have embossed or decorative elements on its cover and be. As an example, the conventional wisdom first edition the cat in the hat, with the 200200 on the. A new chapter for rare book collecting this article is more than 8 years old. Book collecting blog posts on the state of the childrens book. Typically, this means buying all the first editions of an authors work, but a more comprehensive view includes reprints, foreign translations, special editions, and magazine. Chances are if youre an avid book collector, youve looked at your shelves.
How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable. On the other hand, if substantial changes are made to the book after its first printing, perhaps the addition of a chapter or. There are at least as many types of book collectors as there are kinds of books. Today in book collecting 101, were talking about identifying first edition books. Free searchable database of first edition pulitzer prize for fiction books. It is a complicated subject, the book collecting definition of first edition being first edition, first printing. A pocket guide to the identification of first editions. Adam blakeney, senior specialist in modern literature at peter harrington, describes why flemings james bond first editions books have all the qualities of a highly collectible series.
Understanding why do people collect first editions books. And sometimes signed early editions are pretty valuable, even if they arent first editions from the first printing. Firsts magazine has been the premier publication in its field for more than 20 years. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will want to know which one is superior. Book collectors have to learn a trade jargon that is made extra difficult by two facts. Each book thats published, of course, has a first edition. Print runs are a way for collectors to identify which first edition is. Buy beautiful old books, not first editions, christopher howse says. Welcome to bookpoi the first comprehensive free online guide dedicated to identifying first edition books, as well as collectible and rare books. How to be a student book collector and apply for the.
When we started buying first editions years ago, the decision was based rationalized on a simple fact. 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. In general, book club editions are more cheaply printed than the trade editions. A very general rule in book collecting is that the first edition is the most desirable, but there are exceptions. How to identify first editions and care for old books. Traditional approaches tended to fall within three genres. Blog with first edition idenfication points for key books, notes on book prices, and general topics related to collecting childrens picturebooks. Book collecting article about book collecting by the. Do it for the love of books, not money, say the expertsrare and antiquarian books can be surprisingly valuable. In collecting terms, a general definition of 1st edition book would be a works first commercially available appearance in book form, printed with the original setting of type. Personally, each year i give my son a signed first edition of a book written by someone on his people i most admire list. Identifying and collecting first editions abebooks. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. Its true that a first edition may have one or more printings and that a second edition will normally be noted only if there.
A new chapter for rare book collecting books the guardian. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed. Find and learn about collecting first editions at biblio with information and tools to help you identify, find and collect first edition books from your favorite authors. How to identify and collect american first editions. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition dr. Books signed by the author are considered collectible, as are rare books.
Professional booksellers and dedicated collectors spend time collecting knowledge and resources on what a particular publisher might use to identify the first. Collecting first editions is a kind of madness buy beautiful old books, not first editions, christopher howse says. A blog about the reasons why do people collect first editions books. Generally, a first edition of a book refers to both the firstrun printing and first additional version of a book. Youll find common and uncommon book terms, information. Identifying book club editions one girl collecting. Includes images and points of issue to assist collectors in the identification of first editions. You can start with general volumes on book collecting and book history. If we bought a reprint or book club edition of a book by an author whose work we believed would stand.
For book collectors, first edition identification is a vital skill. If youve ever thought about collecting first editions, but didnt know where to start, this post is for you. John helps us identify the methods various publishers use to. If changes are made to a book after the first printing, the book would be described as a second edition.
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