The Basics of Book Collecting
What is a professional bookseller, and how do I become one?
Almost every book lover has at some point pondered the thought that they would love to find a way of…
The Importance of Dust Jackets
Historically, dust jackets are a new concern for authors; you don’t see them much before the 1920s. And dust jacket…
A Brief Introduction to Book Collecting
You know that feeling you sometimes get where you come to the last page of a really great book and…
Book Collecting as an Investment
Book collecting can be a disease, as anyone who loves to read will tell you. Every time you look at…
What Makes a Book Rare?
The reasons that people collect certain types of books are varied and highly personal. A buyer may collect first editions…
What is a First Edition?
In the simplest terms, a first edition is the first commercially distributed version of a book. For the purposes of…
How to Identify First Editions
As we’ve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. Edition and printing can be used fairly…
How to get a book appraisal
The most common reason to get a book or book collection appraised is to get an official determination of the…
How to Read Bookseller Descriptions and Conditions
So you have decided to become a book collector. Congratulations!
How to tell if a signature is real
Signed books can be worth quite a bit. How you can be sure that a signature found in a book…
How to read rare book condition descriptions
Publishers and booksellers have built a specialized vocabulary over the years to consistently describe to perspective customers what to expect…
Collecting One Book
Most book lovers have a favorite book. The love of a single title provides an intriguing opportunity for collecting—the collecting…
A Brief History of the Dust Jacket
As most collectors are aware, a dust jacket in fine condition can greatly enhance the value of a book. Indeed…
Cosway Binding: Beautifully Bound Books
Hand-painted miniature pictures bound into well-crafted covers - cosway-style binding is a beautiful art, but it has almost nothing to…
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Where can I get my book appraised?
Whether you are starting your journey into the wide world of book collecting or you stumbled upon an old and…
Signed vs Inscribed: What's the difference?
Beginning book collectors commonly become confused about the distinction between “signed books” and “inscribed books.”
What is a Number line?
As you delve into the world of book collecting and begin to grasp the basics of identifying first editions and…
Is My Family Bible Valuable?
Without question, family Bibles are precious heirlooms. They often contain handwritten records of notable events in a family’s timeline: births…
