Some rare book terminology can be confusing, so a great starting point is John Carter and Nicolas Barker's ABC for Book Collectors, an often-humorous glossary of rare book terminology (also available as a free. The next step is to become familiar with reference works. I strongly recommend that those new to collecting read through the past winners of the Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize, whose collections represent the wide diversity of approaches to the hobby. What's important is that your collection reflects your interests and fulfils your curiosity. There are great collections of modern zines, hip-hop magazines, and paperback romance novels. Choosing a very specific or under-valued subject may also mean that you have less competition from other collectors and that you can build a strong collection with a smaller outlay.Īnd keep in mind that the books in your collection don't have to be expensive, pretty, or even old. Having a clear focus isn't a requirement, but it will make it easier to begin learning about the books in your field, and it’s also helpful for staying in budget. Some of the best collections have narrow specialities – for instance, instead of buying biology books in general, you might focus on the history of evolutionary theories. So how does one start out as a book collector, particularly in the sciences? The first step is to think about your interests and what type of collection you would like to build. They represent one of the key ways that scientists have exchanged information and established priority, and they have been a primary vehicle for presenting new scientific ideas to the public. Books and other printed material such as scientific journals, as well as hand-written manuscripts and letters, are particularly important in the history of science. In addition to being personally fulfilling, it preserves books as a historical record for future generations, and the very best collections reveal aspects of their subject that only become clear when their contents are viewed as a whole, rather than as individual items. The study of these types of questions, known as book history, is an exciting and quickly-growing academic discipline that sheds light on many areas of human endeavour.Ĭollecting is therefore a valuable pastime. Historically, physical books can tell us a great deal about the conditions in which they were written and circulated what their authors and publishers hoped to achieve and how the books were actually read and used by the public. It’s a link with the author as they sent their work out into the world, and also with the book’s first readers. For instance, owning a first edition transports us back to the moment a book was first published. But the main theme drawing all collectors together is that antique books are a tangible, physical link to the past, both emotionally and intellectually. Nor do you need to collect the usual big name authors – there's plenty of space for creativity in your collecting choices.įirst you might ask: Why collect rare books? There are almost as many reasons as collectors: love of a particular subject or author, passion for fine printing and binding, and the enjoyment of beautiful objects. But in reality, book collecting is a very accessible hobby, and you don’t need to become an overnight expert or spend vast sums to build a meaningful library. Popular culture has created an image of book collectors as older, wealthy, white men who attend glitzy auctions and have beautiful libraries. As a rare book seller I regularly meet people who love old books but aren't sure that book collecting is the right hobby for them.
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