| books written over 100 years ago can often be | | | | Also, if you have enough interest, time and money |
| valuable. But the fact that they are old does not | | | | there is a Rare Book School at the University of |
| mean that they are valuable or are worth collecting. | | | | Virginia in Charlottesville. It has been at that location |
| Twenty years ago many antique books of | | | | since 1992. It offers five day courses on various |
| well-known authors from the 1700s and 1800s and | | | | topics on rare and old books. There are courses for |
| early 1900s could be purchased for $50 - 200. But | | | | booksellers, book collectors, librarians, bookbinders |
| that's not the case anymore as first edition books of | | | | and teachers. |
| authors such as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, | | | | The courses have required reading before you |
| Stephan Crene and Jack London have skyrocketed. | | | | attend. Here are some titles that are frequently |
| Today, the interest level in antique books is high, | | | | recommended: |
| possibly due to The Antique Road Show. Many | | | | - Short History of the Printed Word by Warren |
| people are looking for old books in their grandparent's | | | | Chappell |
| attic, at estate sales and at garage sales. Once they | | | | - Five Hundred Years of Printing by H. S. Steinberg |
| find old books they want to know what they are | | | | - Twelve Centuries of BookBinding, 400-1600 by Paul |
| worth. | | | | Needham |
| It can be difficult to put a value on an antique book | | | | - The History of Cartography edited by Mark |
| which is generally defined as a book that is a hundred | | | | Monmonier |
| or more years old. | | | | - Nabokov's Butterfly & Other Stories of Great |
| Books from the 1800s and earlier didn't have dust | | | | Authors and Rare Books by Rick Gekoski |
| jackets. They are usually worn and torn and stained. | | | | Also, books by Nicolas Basbanes are excellent |
| And often they have been repaired. If all the pages | | | | sources of information on rare and collectible books. |
| are intact and the boards and spine are in relatively | | | | My interest in book collecting goes back about 12 |
| good condition there may be some value in an | | | | years when my brother-in-law started giving me |
| antique book. | | | | advice. My brother-in-law has a few hundred antique |
| But many books were reprinted many times and are | | | | books that he collected mostly in the 1980s and |
| relatively abundant and common. You'll still want to | | | | 1990s on the west coast. |
| look for first editions as with modern and | | | | He has shown his books to me from time to time. |
| hypermodern books. And you'll likely want to get | | | | Most aren't very impressive at first glance until you |
| guidance from a book dealer who specializes in | | | | see the year and the author and know a little about |
| antique or rare books to learn the pitfalls and to get | | | | the background of the book. |
| an idea where bargains may be found. | | | | So if you have an interest in collecting antique books |
| One good source of antique and rare books, antique | | | | ... read about them, do your homework and talk to |
| book values and information is Advanced Book | | | | the experts (like those at Antiquarian Booksellers' |
| Exchange which is the largest used book web site. | | | | Association of America or ABAA) before making a |
| You can also visit wikipedia for bibliographies of | | | | big purchase. |
| authors. And find information on their backgrounds. | | | | |