John helps us identify the methods various publishers use to. Reviewed in the united states on march 24, 2000 for those of you interested in first edition books, this guide book is helpful. Now published bimonthly, it is an invaluable resource for book collectors. Do it for the love of books, not money, say the expertsrare and antiquarian books can be surprisingly valuable.
If changes are made to a book after the first printing, the book would be described as a second edition. Its true that a first edition may have one or more printings and that a second edition will normally be noted only if there. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will want to know which one is superior. 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. You will find an ever growing list of book titles and their. How to identify and collect american first editions. Where a trade edition may have embossed or decorative elements on its cover and be. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition dr.
Identifying book club editions one girl collecting. If youve ever thought about collecting first editions, but didnt know where to start, this post is for you. Print runs are a way for collectors to identify which first edition is. Youll find common and uncommon book terms, information. John carters abc for book collectors is one of the best guides a free. 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. Changes of this nature can include adding a chapter or the addition of a foreword, for. Buy beautiful old books, not first editions, christopher howse says. Identifying and collecting first editions abebooks.
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. Collecting first editions is a kind of madness buy beautiful old books, not first editions, christopher howse says. 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. Book collecting blog posts on the state of the childrens book. Generally, a first edition of a book refers to both the firstrun printing and first additional version of a book. Here are 5 tips from me on how to begin collecting. Professional booksellers and dedicated collectors spend time collecting knowledge and resources on what a particular publisher might use to identify the first. It is a complicated subject, the book collecting definition of first edition being first edition, first printing. A new chapter for rare book collecting books the guardian. This is yet more proof that bookcollecting is a variety of madness. 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. Well also provide tips on determining whether your book is a first.
How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable book riot. 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. 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. Book collectors have to learn a trade jargon that is made extra difficult by two facts. Collecting first editions is a kind of madness telegraph. A pocket guide to the identification of first editions. Free searchable database of first edition pulitzer prize for fiction books. When we started buying first editions years ago, the decision was based rationalized on a simple fact. Firsts magazine has been the premier publication in its field for more than 20 years. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition. Personally, each year i give my son a signed first edition of a book written by someone on his people i most admire list. You can start with general volumes on book collecting and book history. Trends in modern book collecting ken lopez bookseller.
This title may be the most complicated for the investor as this is the only title in which the first edition book was published with 3 versions of the first edition dust jacket. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed. 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. Welcome to bookpoi the first comprehensive free online guide dedicated to identifying first edition books, as well as collectible and rare books. Introduction to collecting literary first editions. Blog with first edition idenfication points for key books, notes on book prices, and general topics related to collecting childrens picturebooks. Understanding why do people collect first editions books. For book collectors, first edition identification is a vital skill. In general, book club editions are more cheaply printed than the trade editions. Today in book collecting 101, were talking about identifying first edition books. Collecting modern first editions essentially began in the late 1920s and early 30s, as the depression hit and the bottom fell out of the rare book market or, more correctly, the top end of the rare book market. 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. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable.
Book collecting book collecting styles of collecting. And sometimes signed early editions are pretty valuable, even if they arent first editions from the first printing. There are at least as many types of book collectors as there are kinds of books. If we bought a reprint or book club edition of a book by an author whose work we believed would stand. Book collecting article about book collecting by the. Chances are if youre an avid book collector, youve looked at your shelves. A new chapter for rare book collecting this article is more than 8 years old. 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. Traditional approaches tended to fall within three genres. As an example, the conventional wisdom first edition the cat in the hat, with the 200200 on the. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. A blog about the reasons why do people collect first editions books. If the book is very, very popular, second editions or reprint editions may be.
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