First editions are sought after by collectors of all kinds. Early herbals, law books, cookbooks and bibles often bear the marks of extensive use as well. Book collecting accessories like bookplate labels, book jacket covers and comic book bags are an important part of the collecting experience. The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition the edition of the book that supersedes all other editions chronologically and sometimes detective work is required to identify the true first. A new chapter for rare book collecting books the guardian. 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. This classic of book collecting has has been helping book lovers and. How to identify first editions and care for old 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. If the book is very, very popular, second editions or reprint editions may be desirable to collectors who dont have the cash to fork over for first editions but still want a piece of rare book history.
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. Buy beautiful old books, not first editions, christopher howse says. Although the latevictorian passion for modern first editions still flourishes today, many of the prizes fetishized by dibdinincunabula, lavish. It began when the modern first edition market came alive with a howl. Finally, he follows the history of great book collectors, from men like sir robert cotton, who salvaged the manuscripts scattered by the sack of the monasteries, to the great american collectorspierpont moran and henry huntingtonwho both established libraries fully comparable to those of the old world. If you check the lw curreys science fiction and fantasy authors.
Frequently asked questions bauman rare books first editions. If changes are made to a book after the first printing, the book would be described as a second edition. A first edition is the first printing of a book, why collect them. A pocket guide to the identification of first editions by bill mcbride. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will want to know which one is superior. That is because a first edition is the very first copy of a book to be published for sale, which often makes first editions rare books, hardtofind copies, or even outof print editions. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect books is called a bibliophile. Identifying and collecting first editions the hobbit first edition by j. Book collecting book collecting styles of collecting. At first this can become somewhat confusing because when a book becomes very popular and is often reprinted many times over a number.
Decide what types of condition and completeness are within your price range, and pick the very best available. Collecting modern first editions fine books and collections. On the other hand, if substantial changes are made to the book after its first printing, perhaps the addition of a chapter or. Used by collectors, probably all rare book dealers in the us and librarians. Although the latevictorian passion for modern first editions still flourishes today, many of the prizes fetishized by dibdinincunabula, lavish grolier bindings, caxton editionshave become so rare and expensive as to be almost unobtainable. First edition, first issue of dickens thirteenth novel and his penultimate completed novel. You will find an ever growing list of book titles and their. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed rare. If you own one of these rare books, youre sitting on a.
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 appearances. In addition, some proclaimed authorities can mislead you. And sometimes signed early editions are pretty valuable, even if they arent first editions from the first printing. Last year, one of irelands bestknown collectors, retired sligo gp dr philip murray, sold his collection of modern first editions of 20th century novels after a lifetime of collecting. In the world of book collecting, a first edition is generally considered to be the first appearance of a work, in its first printing. Some book club editions actually are first editions or at least first hardcovers. Other nonprizewinning lists include the rivers of america books, the baedeker guidebooks to europe, or the american guide series. To find out more about what a first edition book is and why its. First edition identification by publisher ag in the case of titles published before 1900, the key to first edition identification is often the date on the title page. In this collection, you build an entire collection of books by a particular author. Apr 17, 2020 if my focus had been just on collecting first editions, then i could easily have been spending hundreds of pounds at a time to build this collection. New genres and subjects, such as childrens books and the history of science and. Last year, one of irelands bestknown collectors, retired sligo gp dr philip murray, sold his collection of modern first editions of 20th century.
Oct 03, 2019 and sometimes signed early editions are pretty valuable, even if they arent first editions from the first printing. This is yet more proof that bookcollecting is a variety of madness. Changes of this nature can include adding a chapter or the addition of a foreword, for example. Each book thats published, of course, has a first edition. But by the time a book is ready for the public market, it has been printed hundreds, perhaps thousands of times in the form of what is often called.
That was the book they ran with to the bar, the book they waved proudly in the air, the book they wanted everyone to see they had finally finished. Something unexpected happened to the world of book collecting in the 1960s. Book collecting blog posts on the state of the childrens book hobby and other general book collecting related information. You really can carry it around in a pocket and pull it out to confirm if the book youve stumbled across is a modern first edition or not. Jan 29, 2020 if changes are made to a book after the first printing, the book would be described as a second edition. Bauman rare books first editions, signed and inscribed. 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. 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. Dust jackets are rated on the same scale from fine to poor, and they make a huge difference in the value of the book. The best way to determine first printings of older books is by the date. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable book riot. A great many people over a great number of decades, have written pamphlets, whole books even. There are at least as many types of book collectors as there are kinds of books. This classic of book collecting has has been helping book lovers and collectors for decades and is now in its 8th edition.
While not as valuable a first editions, second editions of some books can certainly be. Rowlings birth name before she took a pen name and a. If the book is very, very popular, second editions or reprint editions may be. It can be exciting and compulsive and, contrary to some critics, it is not a dreary bookish endeavour, followed only by the. Greenlight bookstore reaches out to collectors of hypermodern firsts by a. In the first approach, the collector set out to gather the works of a chosen author. To this day, i delight in finding a first issue of a book because i like. A bibliography of first printings of their fiction and selected nonfiction revised edition, you find listings of first editions with the comment issued by the science fiction book. That was the copy of the book i wanted for my own bookshelf. It was then that i first started collecting first editions. That is because a first edition is the very first copy of a book to be published for sale, which often.
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. The first edition of harry potter and the philosophers stone is the only book in the series that credits joanne rowling as its author j. Collecting first editions is a kind of madness telegraph. Antique, book decor, collectibles, collecting, flea market, victoria van vlear. Book collecting in the united states part 1 the new. Identifying and collecting first editions abebooks. Identifying and collecting first editions shop for books.
Jul 15, 20 navigating the world of bibliographical points identifying first editions, collation determining completeness, and condition in which issues vary era to era and book to book can be a treacherous path without a teacher. Peter harrington also has a wide range of information about rare books, including a great article on first editions. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition childrens. If not, the fact that its a first edition doesnt matter. In more recent times, he discusses the revival of printing. Traditional approaches tended to fall within three genres.
Instead, my focus has always been on completing it that is, owning every title in the series which often meant spending only a couple of pounds on a cheaply made paperback. Aug 18, 2017 however, i am first and foremost a book collector and writer. You can collect any kind of books but make sure that you collect books that you love. Collectors of lesser means may collect works by a favorite author, first editions of modern authors, or books on a given subject.
Devers work has appeared in laphams quarterly, salon, slate, tin house, and other. Sep 12, 2014 once again, this collection would typically focus on the first editions of these works, but could be more expansive in its scope, including reprints, classic editions, etc. Book collecting contemporary book collecting britannica. Mar 28, 2012 a new chapter for rare book collecting. Great for exploring used book stores on vacation, yard sales, and other unexpected opportunities to acquire old books.
Books from your childhood, books about space, your favourite fiction series, books published by a. How to be a student book collector and apply for the anthony. We hope that this post has illuminated the reasons why first editions are often sought by. 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 collapsed almost entirely. Mar 15, 2016 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. The featured book and more are available in our shop at 117 sw 6th ave in topeka, kansas or online at. A basic guide to all aspects of book collectingwhat to collect, who to buy from, auctions, bibliographies, care, fakes and forgeries. Great expectations charles dickens first edition rare book. Definitely a first edition, blue hardbound, stamped cover. If youve ever kept a copy of a book that you had already finished reading, youve already started. Youll find common and uncommon book terms, information about various book sizes, bindings, papers, first editions, and so much more. Understanding why do people collect first editions books. The great gatsby first edition, first printing 1925.
Here are 5 tips from me on how to begin collecting. However, for a first edition to have value, there must be a demand for it. Yet rare books are a great example of getting what you pay for. If youve ever thought about collecting first editions, but didnt know where to start, this post is for you. How to be a student book collector and apply for the. An interview with siep kuijpers, passionate book collector of modern first editions, who specializes in horror, fantasy, and science fiction.
First edition books are the first appearances in print of a particular work, and as such convey value and meaning to their owner, aesthetically, emotionally and monetarily. The vast majority of first editions published before 1900 had the year of publication on the title page this is true for fiction and nonfiction titles. Trends in modern book collecting ken lopez bookseller. The desire to acquire first editions could be considered the backbone of the book collecting world. Book collecting blog posts on the state of the childrens book. Because collectors of modern first editions generally prefer a copy as close as possible to the first appearance of the book in every way, most prefer a dust jacket when obtainable. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog of the. Tolkien we venture to say that no other piece of terminology has caused so much contention among booksellers and collectors as that of first edition. Our guide to book collecting covers many of the basic elements of book collecting, from what to collect to caring for your book collection. Changes of this nature can include adding a chapter or the addition of a foreword, for. The first printing of a book, also called the first edition, can be very valuable, especially if the book has gained popularity over the years and had a small initial print run. Heres a well thought out list of great resources, including the bible of book collecting. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
First edition in book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. Learn the basics of first edition identification for book collectors. Book collecting book collecting contemporary book collecting. Collectors distinguish between a first edition the first printing of a book. Should you stash that box of eclectic first editions your grandmother gave. Some dust jackets are exceptionally scarce, such as those of the great. Wealthy book collectors pursue great rarities such as the gutenberg bible, and shakespeares first folio, books which are both famous and extremely valuable. Blog with first edition idenfication points for key books, notes on book prices, and general topics related to collecting childrens picturebooks.
Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition. Sep 10, 2014 that was the book they ran with to the bar, the book they waved proudly in the air, the book they wanted everyone to see they had finally finished. Some dust jackets are exceptionally scarce, such as those of the great gatsby and the sun also rises. Collecting modern first editions or antiquarian books is a fun pursuit. 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.
How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable. Collecting advance reading copies books tell you why, inc. How to identify first editions for the most part, the first edition of a book is more meaningful to the world of book collectors than it was to the publisher a brief introduction to book collecting there isnt one type of book collector. Its true that a first edition may have one or more printings and that a second edition will normally be noted only if there are actual changes, usually major, in the text.
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