Whether you're collecting books for fun or profit, these books offer introductions to the practice of book collecting. Learn about the history of book collecting; understand what to do (and not to do) when you're building your collection of books. Discover what to look for in book collecting: first editions, collectible authors, autographs, and rarity. Read more about the basics of book collecting with this list of books!
1. ABC for Book Collectors
by John Carter. Oak Knoll Press. From the publisher: "Here, in over 450 alphabetical entries, ranging in length from a single line to several pages, may be found definition and analysis of the technical terms of book collecting and bibliography, interspersed with salutory comment on such subjects as auctions, condition, facsimiles and fakes, 'points', rarity, etc."
2. Understanding Book Collecting
by Grant Uden. Antique Collector's Club. From the publisher: "This work makes available a mass of useful information, including details of the technical aspects of book making, the vexed question of first editions and the matters of completeness and condition. Contains an excellent glossary."3. Book Finds
by Ian C. Ellis. Perigee Trade. From the publisher: "Collecting books today can be surprisingly easy-and surprisingly profitable. This insider's guide to the world of the used and rare book market shows how to find the best deals. It's everything the novice or the expert needs to know."4. The Culture of Collected Editions
by Andrew Nash (Editor). Palgrave. From the publisher: "'The Culture of Collected Editions' is a ground-breaking book, offering the first comprehensive account of the vital role that collected editions have played in the construction of authorship, the history of reputation and the formation of the canon."5. Book Collecting: A Comprehensive Guide
by Allen Ahearn. Putnam. From the publisher: "It is an exhaustive guide to the basics and finer points of book collecting and the book trade for novice and professional collectors, as well as dealers and librarians. It identifies which books to collect, where and how to buy them, and how to judge their condition and care for them, and provides a glossary of trade terms and lists of dealers."6. Instant Expert: Collecting Books
by Matthew Budman. Crown Publishing Group. From the publisher: "Everything you need to know: what is collectible, strategies for buying and selling, the value of an author autograph, how books are made and more. This is a comprehensive guide to online resources, conferences and conventions, shops, organizations and an annotated bibliography."