Antique book collecting tips

It combines beautiful, interesting objects with the excitement of the hunt and, who knows, maybe even the possibility of. Here, weve compiled a brief guide to help you along your collecting ways. Our guide to book collecting covers many of the basic elements of book. Include everything from tried and true antique glassware, ceramics, and furniture. I have purchaced 4 through ebay so far and am absolutely loving it.

If you have any questions or suggestions for future tips, please email us. Oct 24, 20 in addition to rare books, outofprint books, antique maps and vintage prints and antique photographs, lighthouse books, abaa also offers expert antiquarian book appraisals. 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. A mans bookshelf is a map of his mind and memories. Book collecting can be addicting and whether you collect for nostalgia, the fun of the chase, or even for investment purposes, theres a lot to know about collecting classics. In this very personal book, she gives practical advice about collecting and living with antique objects. 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. There are several good titles about book collecting, including abc for book collectors free pdf, which is sort of the book collector s bible. Tips for rare book collectors by mary barile antique appraiser collecting rare books has been a hobby since the 16th century, when wealthy buyers sought out. Kovels antiques and collectibles price list at amazon. Collectibles are soughtafter items that are less than 100 years old. Here are a few tips for determining the fair market value for various.

Book collecting is one of the greatest hobbies there is. For years, collecting antiques has been barbara ohrbachs favorite pastime. When buying antiques the buyer has a multitude of ways to buy, including online internet auctions, local auction houses, newspaper and classified ads, antique dealers, etc, etc. Sell the books no longer relevant to your collection. This short guide gives basic tips for starting your book collection. When coins were heavily touted as investments in the 1980s, the common logic was that. Make the price too low, and you may feel like you havent received your book s full worth.

You can start with general volumes on book collecting and book history. Sep 04, 2015 collecting rare books is at once a hobby, a passion, and an art form. Lets say your book is definitely rare, and valuable, and you want to sell it. Well known to book collectors and booklovers, our site is an excellent resource for discovering a rough value of an old book.

One girl collecting the journey of one girl wading. Baked in a pastry, these ceramic utensils offer an adorable way to let off steam. Rare books that are very fragile should be stored in custommade, acidfree book boxes that are sized to each book. Tips and information in the area of antique and collectable books, books for sale and general information. Abebooks has been part of the rare book world since going live in 1996. We routinely hear from customers who want to know the best way to store collectible books. 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. 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. As you find nicer copies of books in your collection, sell the lesser versions. From there i began to look for other hard to find sendak books, not realizing i was hooked until it was too late. Yet rare books are a great example of getting what you pay for.

Avoid opening the book widely, as this can cause damage to the spine. When youve finished the book, check to make sure any book marks have been removed. The process is filled with nuances, and there are perhaps as many ways to go about forming a collection as there are collectors. Rebinding an old book is an expensive process and will almost always decrease its value. Some people shop used bookstores and antique stores, others find books online, still others find them through yard sales and estate sales. John carters abc for book collectors is one of the best guides a free.

Here are a few tips for determining the fair market value for various books as well as caring for your newest treasures. If you dont want to break the bank on your book collection, heed these tips. Collecting rare books is at once a hobby, a passion, and an art form. Collecting rare books has been a hobby since the 16th century, when wealthy buyers sought out unique examples of illustrated manuscripts and ancient works. The antique store clerk said the buttons were taken in on consignment from a customer who purchased them at an estate sale. The readymade boxes have four flaps surrounding the book and are sealed with some type of string, magnetic tape, or velcro. Collect what you love the best book collections reflect the.

You will find that the entire adventure of collecting can be much more enjoyable if you focus on what matters to you. These book collecting tips are simple techniques to improve your collection and your experience of collecting. The collectics antique collector bookstore features only the best collector books and price guides for antiques and collectibles, compiled for each collecting category above by our staff and surveys of top antique dealers, appraisers, and auction houses. Even if you buy coins at a fair retail markup, you are still paying at least 1020% over typical wholesale prices. A beginners guide to buying antiques february 19, 2018 august 14, 2019 admin 1 comment antiques, buying antiques if youre new to the world of antiques and art, it can be a bewildering experience, so read our beginners guide to buying antiques to get started. Decide what types of condition and completeness are within your price range, and pick the very best available. Jonathan smalter, owner of yesterdays muse books in webster, new york, offers some sound advice on collecting rare and antique books.

Book collecting tips, book grading, book terminology, book. Nonacidfree paper left in may cause damage to the pages. Sep 12, 2014 how to save money while book collecting. Due to its very limited numbers, in our time is considered one of the rare books for book collectors around the world. When searching on its important to find copies that match the book in your possession as accurately as possible. In addition to rare books, outofprint books, antique maps and vintage prints and antique photographs, lighthouse books, abaa also offers expert antiquarian book appraisals. Abe books is an easytouse website with links to hundreds of book dealers. At the bottom of the box was a gold necklace and some loose change. Cherchez, the elegant home furnishings shop she owned in new york city, reflected her exquisite taste and impeccable eye. Book collecting tips ive learned over the years ive always enjoyed visiting book stores.

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. Learn about pricing, restoration, and the particulars of your niche in this collection. Book collecting tips this short guide gives basic tips for starting your book collection. Lately i have been very interested in beginning an antique book collection. To get started, decide how much space you have for your. That isis it possible to be both a book collector and a reader of the books or should those two hobbies be completely separate. Aug 14, 2019 a beginners guide to buying antiques february 19, 2018 august 14, 2019 admin 1 comment antiques, buying antiques if youre new to the world of antiques and art, it can be a bewildering experience, so read our beginners guide to buying antiques to get started.

Tips for rare book collectors by mary barile antique appraiser collecting rare books has been a hobby since the 16th century, when wealthy buyers sought out unique examples of illustrated manuscripts and ancient works. Here are 5 tips from me on how to begin collecting. Once you know what books to collect and understand the terms and jargon used in the world of rare books you will be ready to begin building your library. While certain types of books can make good investments, if you want to collect primarily for investment purposes, book collecting may not be for you. If youre collecting vintage items, research is the key to being a smart collector. All about collecting, storing, and cleaning buttons. A jewelry designer recycles vintage jewelry from flea markets. Buy a book, it will be a small investment when compared to.

Sadly, even more commonly, we hear from customers who have inadvertently stored their books improperly, eroding the value of their beloved book collection. 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. Here are a few tips for determining the fair market value for various books as. Open the book only as wide as necessary to comfortably read the book. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a. A first edition of moby dick, one of my favorite books of. 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.

Feb 17, 2017 the ten commandments to collecting comic books simplemans comics. Some people collect by author, others by subject matter, still others by publishers or era. It can be a hobby for pickers or diligent perusers of yard sales, flea markets, and online auctions, or it can be turned into a business. With its detailed descriptions, current market values, and key identifying characteristics, the book has been a reliable and trusted reference and the definitive bottlecollecting guide for 20 years. Palm springs antiques dealer offers tips for collecting rare. Antique collecting is an appealing hobby because it offers the antique enthusiast the fun and excitement of hunting for rare and valuable treasures. These often advertise author signing events and special collector s editions.

I followed my brotherinlaw around used bookstores for years. When youre out shopping at your favorite market or antique store, participate in the long, illustrious tradition of book collecting. The ten commandments to collecting comic books youtube. And he had built up quite a few new and antique collectible books by the mid 90s when he moved back to dallas.

I had no clue if the set was valuable, i just knew that it resonated with me. Learn how to find rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer. However, some universal truths are present in the book collecting world. A beginners guide to buying antiques antique collecting. Palm springs antiques dealer offers tips for collecting. My best guess was that these old buttons had been stashed in this cardboard box for a. You can make them from precut bond stock or buy them readymade. Next you have to figure out just how much its worth. People have collected books since they were printed, with some folks enjoying it so much they developed a mania for the hobby. This means that any coins that you purchase have to go up at least 1020% for you to break even. Buying antiques buying antiques how, where, when and why to buy antiques and collectables.

The ten commandments to collecting comic books simplemans comics. Take a look at these vintage souvenir drinking glasses from all 50 states. A book becomes rare when its both hard to find and highly sought. I recently received an email from a reader who asked, is there a correct, careful way to handle a book so as not to damage it. If youve ever thought about collecting first editions, but didnt know where to start, this post is for you. In 2009, after a number of collecting foibles, i started the one girl collecting blog as a way of sharing some of the lessons id learned. The binding is nearly perfect except for a little wear on the top and bottom and there are no dogeared pages. I liked browsing for books but didnt know anything.

Information the novice and professional can use in book collecting, investing, dealing, pricing, grading, terms and descriptions used. Of course, you can just pick up titles that catch your eye or have beautiful covers, but if you want to start a libraryworthy collection of your own, check out these tips. Building a collection can be a fulfilling lifetime hobby. Decades ago, buying and selling antiques was solely the tradecraft of serious antique dealers, highend auction houses, and heavy rollersnow, anyone can do it. One girl collecting the journey of one girl wading through. With all that said, however, books are for reading so make sure you do that, too. Antique book collectingbuying general book discussions. The process is filled with nuances, and there are perhaps as many ways to. Home collector tips essential tips for collecting antique clocks lot 7, art nouveau mantel clock with french movement, c. A variation of learning how to collect antiques is the collectibles hobby. He started collecting books in the 80s when he was out on the west coast. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is called a bibliophile. Nov 25, 2019 first of all, collecting books offers as many channels as there are recipes for chocolate chip cookies.