Guide to Collecting Rare Books

Summary: A first edition of “On the Road,” a signed copy of “The Man in the High Castle,” a early version of Wilde’s “Salome” with the Aubrey Beardsley cover intact…these are some of the holy grails of the rare book world and each worth a great deal. Indeed, the exciting world of book collecting has its share of fortunes to be made, but not all of these are through honest means. Illicit copies abound, so buyers must know exactly what to look for before investing in a rare book. Sellers must know exactly how to describe their books to potential customers wary of a scam and how to avoid inaccurate listings.

In this series of book collecting videos, a bookselling professional gives you expert advice on how to collect old books, including how to find rare books at trade shows. He will also demonstrate how to determine if a book is actually a first edition. You will learn how to determine the value of a book and decide whether or not you should attempt to repair it.