Rare Books

Collecting rare books can be complicated, but so fulfilling. There are many different things that determine the price in a rare book - the edition, the printing, the binding, whether it is inscribed by the author, whether it contains illustrations - and a savvy collector must be aware of them to ensure that he or she is paying a fair price. Books can fall prey to so many calamities, such as water damage, ripped pages, a lost dust jacket, dirt and just falling apart from being read so often, it's a wonder that any of them see old age at all. Finding an old, rare book in wonderful condition can bring such a feeling of satisfaction to a collector.

Not only must a book be hard to find to be considered a collectible rare book, but it must be important in some way. For example, a man could publish a single copy of a book about himself. It would be extremely rare, but most likely valuable only to those who love him. First editions tend to be sought after, particularly a small first printing of a book by an unknown author that went on to become well known. For example, Walt Whitman's famed "Leaves of Grass" had a first printing of only 795 volumes. A book that had some type of controversy swirling around it when it was first published might also be considered a collectible rare book. The Gutenberg Bible, published in the 1400's, was the first book to be printed on a printing press. Only 21 copies survive to this day - very rare, very important!

There are so many rare books out there that most collectors choose to focus their collections on one type of book. Some look for books signed by the author, while others focus on classic books. Some seek out collectible children's books, which can be hard to find in good condition since not only were they read often, but they were tied to balloons, run over with bicycle tires, put to work as tea tables for dolls and any other use those innovative little minds could think of. Some focus on great British authors, while others go for Americans or other nationalities. It all depends on what the collector loves best!