If changes are made to a book after the first printing, the book would be described as a second edition. Introduction to collecting literary first editions. A blog about the reasons why do people collect first editions books. I am completely new to the world of rare book collecting. Now published bimonthly, it is an invaluable resource for book collectors. Remember when collecting first editions that condition and scarcity are the main contributing factors to the price of a book. This is yet more proof that bookcollecting is a variety of madness. Abebooks offers an immense collection of first edition books for sale, including some of the most famous books ever published. There are at least as many types of book collectors as there are kinds of books. Rare and antiquarian books can be surprisingly valuable. Buy beautiful old books, not first editions, christopher howse says.
Book collecting book collecting styles of collecting. Edition and printing can be used fairly interchangeably in talking about collectible books, especially in regard to modern fiction. Well also provide tips on determining whether your book is a first. Personally, each year i give my son a signed first edition of a book written by someone on his people i most admire list. Kate greenaway books and almanacks in first edition and nice condition kay neilsen any of his first editions. First edition24689753, to first editions, and removed the first edition statement from subsequent printings e. Rare books first home of bookseller 1st editions and. The first edition refers to a books first printing run. For lasting value, most collectors will want to seek first editions in. Identifying a first edition march 15, 2016 john helps us identify the methods various publishers use to signify the first edition of a book. Print runs are a way for collectors to identify which first edition is truly the. Firsts magazine has been the premier publication in its field for more than 20 years. Jules verne any first editions julian barnes first editions published before 1985.
Its easy to use, and small and light enough to fit in. Bookpoi a guide to identify points of issue for first. How to identify first editions book collecting guide. The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition. However, for a first edition to have value, there must be a demand for it. Specializing in rare and signed books including first editions in the genres of classic literature, books into film, childrens, fantasy, illustrated, and science fiction. How to identify first editions and care for old books. As weve mentioned elsewhere, first edition means the first printing of a book. Blog with first edition idenfication points for key books, notes on book prices, and general topics related to collecting childrens picturebooks. Before we begin, it is only fair to note that there is a difference between a book collection and a personal library.
Modern firsts first edition of a book published after 1900. How to tell if a book is a first edition or valuable book riot. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition dr. To find out more about what a first edition book is and why its important to collectors, see what is a first edition. Traditional approaches tended to fall within three. Are the books on your shelves or in your grandparents attic worth. Book collecting article about book collecting by the.
Information on the existence, location, and prices of collectors items can be found in author bibliographies, dealer and auction catalogs, and bookcollecting periodicals such as the. Each book thats published, of course, has a first edition. Book collectors have to learn a trade jargon that is made extra difficult by two facts. Learn the basics of first edition identification for book collectors. Collectors distinguish between a first edition the first printing of a book and a modern first edition which moreorless applies to books printed from 1900 on although, the exact. Collecting first editions is a kind of madness buy beautiful old books, not first editions, christopher howse says. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. Within the first printing there can be differences that make the earlier books in the printing more. Identifying first editions the new antiquarian the blog of the. A pocket guide to the identification of first editions.
I am wondering if there is one or two particular books that you would recommend as first reads into the world of. A common complaint of book collectors is that the bibliographers definition is used in a bookcollecting context. First edition books are the first appearances in print of a. Trends in modern book collecting ken lopez bookseller. Book club editions book of the month clubs often use the same printing plates as the original publisher, right down to the words first edition on the printing history. Collecting first editions is a kind of madness telegraph. Book club editions are often sold as first editions. If you dont want to break the bank on your book collection, heed these tips. Includes images and points of issue to assist collectors in the identification of first editions. You can buy a guide to identifying first editions to make some sense of the confusion. Welcome to bookpoi the first comprehensive free online guide dedicated to identifying first edition books, as well as collectible and rare books. Do it for the love of books, not money, say the expertsrare and antiquarian books can be surprisingly valuable. If there are two or more books described as a first edition, then a collector will want to know which one is superior. A pocket guide to the identification of first editions details the methods over 4,600 different publishers use to identify their first editions.
The majority of booksellers and collectors want the true first edition the edition of the book that supersedes all other editions chronologically and sometimes detective work is required to identify the true first. Free searchable database of first edition pulitzer prize for fiction books. Values relate to first editions in very good condition. Page 2 for rare signed first edition books are stocked here at doodled books limited. Find a first edition of your favorite book to add to your own collection or as a gift for the bibliophile in your life. Tolkien any first editions, especially the history of middle earth series, hobbit, lord of the rings and early scholarly items. A new chapter for rare book collecting books the guardian.
Browse through our inventory below or contact us to discuss your rare books. But for older books, or books originally published by small. Gannon, who once built an entire collection based solely on second editions, added, second edition books are often essentially the same book as first editions, perhaps. The following table is an excerpt from our book the childrens picturebook price guide. First editionfirst printing copies are what people may most.
As you start collecting books, youll start hearing terms like first edition, first printing, first edition thus, and so on. Collecting modern first editions essentially began in the late 1920s and early 30s, as the depression hit and the bottom fell out of the rare book market or, more correctly, the top end of. Adam blakeney, senior specialist in modern literature at peter harrington, describes why flemings james bond first editions books have all the qualities of a highly. There are several good titles about book collecting, including abc for book collectors free pdf, which is sort of the bookcollectors bible. The desire to acquire first editions could be considered the backbone of the book collecting world. Before you embark on your search for collectable, firstedition books, its important that you educate yourself about the marketplace and what to look for. Understanding why do people collect first editions books. Both are good and beautiful things, but they are different. Markus zusak the book thief signed first editions martin amis early first editions mary fitt pre1940 first editions in jackets mary norton bedknobs books and borrowers books mary. First editions and signed copies are two cornerstones of book collecting, but, once you have delved into the world of used books, the golden rule is condition, condition, condition. Our guide to book collecting covers many of the basic elements of book collecting, from what to collect to caring for your book collection.
Today in book collecting 101, were talking about identifying first edition books. Identifying and collecting first editions shop for books. The first edition offers collectors the finest notable rare books. You can find detailed help on identifying book club editions here. We offer a large selection of modern first edition books available including rare limited edition and signed first edition first printings. Collecting, identifying, and valuing first edition. Collectors distinguish between a first edition the first printing of a book and a modern first edition which moreorless applies to books printed.
962 1436 28 1171 887 1297 1417 414 352 1153 1321 424 968 1470 1514 899 1109 1424 833 1455 833 1222 453 816 330 314 759 191 1391 902 1336 498 1367 181 1281