Frequently Asked Questions

u003ch2u003eWhat is the difference between an antiquarian and rare book?u003c/h2u003ernAntiquarian refers to collecting old, antique books. Rarity has more to do with the book’s value. Rare books are often old, but other factors apply such as the scarcity and the desirability. For example, althoughu003cemu003e Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stoneu003c/emu003e is a relatively recent book (published 1997), first editions are quite rare and valuable, as there were only about 500 copies printed, with many of them going to libraries. There are many books with small print runs however, so it is mostly due to the success of the book, the series, and the films that has created a great deal of desirability for this title.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eWhat defines a rare book?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernThe rarity of a book is determined by several factors, including the printing history and the number of copies printed or sold. The quality of the paper and binding affects the value of the book, but it can also contribute to the book’s longevity: a fragile composition may not maintain fine condition over time. Some categories of books are more prone to destruction than others, and there unlikely preservation may render them more valuable. For example, Bibles, cookbooks, law books, and children’s books are difficult to find intact because they’re often extensively used. Most of all, rarity does not only mean that the book is old and difficult to find. A rare book is important. It often has a legacy of being critically respected, commercially successful, and highly collectible.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eHow important is a book’s condition?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernThe condition of a book is unequivocal. Copies in exceptional and “fine” condition are at a premium, and collectors are often wise to obtain the best possible copy that can be afforded. Of course, older books are generally in lesser condition than recent ones.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eHow can I learn about a book’s condition?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernThe conditions of our books are described individually on our site or in our catalogues. If in reading the description of a book you encounter terms that you are unfamiliar with, you can read up here in our u003ca href=u0022/book-collecting-resources/u0022u003eglossary of termsu003c/au003e:rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eHow important is provenance?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernProvenance is the specific history of a copy of a book from the time of its publication to present. Some indicators of the book’s history are previous owner signatures and gift inscriptions (usually on the first few pages of the book) and bookplates. Typically, provenance adds mere interest to the book, giving it a fun history for a collector, but occasionally it can add great value if the book belonged to a famous historical figure or was stored in a renowned library.rnrnThere are two official terms for how provenance is conveyed. A “presentation” is when the writer gives his book to another with an inscription indicating the exchange, and an “association copy” is a book that is somehow connected to its author. If either type of provenance can be established, the book is attributed greater value.rnrnRegrettably, most books don’t have a traceable provenance. They are bought and sold between owners without record.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eWhat is an edition, and what is a first edition?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernAn “edition” a series of a book printed from a given setting of type at a given time. For example, an edition may include 500 copies, with 250 printed in March and another 250 printed in November. If an edition is reprinted from the same setting of type, perhaps because of a given edition’s popularity, it may be reprinted with few changes. This produces different “states” and “issues” but not a new edition. A “first edition,” however, is the first public appearance of the text in book form. It is printed from the first setting of type, and the type may be a metal, photo, or digital type.rnrnOccasionally, the term “first edition” is nuanced. “First edition in English” is the first English-language edition of a book that appeared first in another language. This is not to be confused with “first English edition,” which indicates that the book was first published in a different country and this is the first publication in Britain. This is the same for “first American edition.”rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eAnd what is an issue and state?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernAn issue occurs when deletions and additions are intentionally made to a minority of books within a given book printing with the intention of being treated by the publisher as separate from the rest of the printing.rnrnA state occurs when the publisher does not wish to treat these books as separate from the other copies. The publisher, for instance, may not wish to bring these changes to the public’s eye to avoid his affecting his sale.rnrnP. H. Muir summarizes it as follows in u003cemu003eu003ca href=u0022http://www.amazon.com/Book-Collecting-as-a-Hobby/dp/B003VOUE58u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eBook-Collecting as a Hobbyu003c/au003e: u003c/emu003eAn u0022issueu0022 is caused by some change … after some copies have already been circulated, (while) a u0022stateu0022 is caused by a … change before any copies of the book have been circulated.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eHow do you determine if a book is a first edition?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernThe most challenging (and fun) aspect of book collecting is identifying a first edition. Some publishers print the words “First Edition” or “First Printing” on the copyright page, while others mark the edition using a symbol or a series of numbers. “Points” are unique, physical characteristics of an edition that can help identify it. These are often determined by bibliographers who study an author’s printed work – examining the book’s binding, typography, and content – to determine variations in, for example, the color of a cloth binding or a misspelling on a particular page. Points are useful in determining the edition, issue, or state of a particular copy.rnrnFor an extended explanation on how to identify a first edition, check out our First Edition Identification Resource.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eWhat is the difference between a first and limited edition?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernA “limited edition” contains a “limitation statement,” typically on the back of the title page. The limitation statement will note the total number of copies; occasionally it will detail the type of paper or binding of the printing. The number of a specific copy may be noted— for example “67 of 200” . A signed limited edition includes an autograph from the author or publisher.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eAre first editions more valuable than limited editions?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernUsually the first editions (or first trade edition, as you may hear it referred as) are more valuable, but this is a generalization. [This is indicated in the above sections on first editions.] Sometimes the first printing of a book is printed as a limited edition. In this case, the limited edition is the first edition, and it may have the greatest potential value.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eWhy is the dust jacket important for modern first editions?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernDust jackets are important because of their historical sense and their potential scarcity for being in fine condition. They were originally designed in the mid-nineteenth century to protect a book in transit and were discarded upon the book’s safe arrival. Very few early jackets – or “dust wraps” – survive.rnrnIn the early twentieth century, dust jackets developed from protective coverings to employing colorful illustrations and promotional aids, and their elaborate design came to be appreciated as a descriptive art form integral to the book itself. Dust jackets of modern books are valuable because they appeared alongside the first appearance of the book, and are, therefore, part of the book’s original identity. Collectors of modern first editions generally prefer a dust jacket, but some are exceptionally scarce, such as u003cemu003eThe Great Gatsbyu003c/emu003e and u003cemu003eThe Sun Also Risesu003c/emu003e.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eDo later editions have value?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernWhile first editions generally have the most value, there are exceptions. Sometimes the first edition may no longer exist, rendering a later publication or translation the standard of value. For example, a true first edition in the original language may be unobtainable, or a book may have had greater impact in, say, English rather than the language of its first publication.rnrnIn other cases, collectors may simply prefer a later edition because it has been enhanced. For example, some publications, by nature of their genre, benefit from being a later edition. Historical works, narratives of travel and exploration, and similar non-fiction genres may have additional or corrected information in a later edition. They may contain appreciable added maps and illustrations. Even literature may be preferred as a later edition for the same reasons. The term “best edition” refers to an edition that bibliographers designate as the superior edition.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eWhat is the difference between a signed and inscribed book?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernA “signed” copy appears when an author personally signs the book with his name, usually, by hand. An “inscribed” copy refers to an author signing a book with reference to another person.rnrnGenerally, the more authentic writing in a book, the better its value is. Signature and inscriptions designate historical legacy and contribute to a particular book’s provenance. Reference to significant historical figures or locations always increases value. [See the question on provenance for related info.] But this can be negated by a collector’s personal preference. Often, the author’s signature alone is more valuable to a given collector than an inscription because he may find the inscription’s reference to a previous owner irrelevant to his intent for owning the book.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eDoes a film make a book more valuable?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernWhile a book’s adaptation into a film does not necessarily make it more valuable, it often has affect. A book’s adaptation to the screen inevitably increases the popularity of the book’s author. This may re-surge the book’s popularity, influencing book collector’s to hunt down the book’s first edition, which in turn makes the book more valuable. First editions of Ian Fleming’s u003cemu003eCasino Royalu003c/emu003e, the first of Fleming’s fourteen-part Bond series, were highly sought when the 2006 film adaptation starring Daniel Craig was released.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eShould I make provisions for storing books in my home?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernBooks are made to be handled, so they’re naturally durable. Nonetheless, books should be kept in a safe environment, stored upright on a book shelf. It should not be too hot, cold, dry or damp. High humidity can warp boards and foster mold, and direct sunlight can destroy leather bindings and fade dust jackets. It’s prudent to invest in a protective acid-free, clear mylar jacket to cover and protect the dust jacket. All of the books with dust jackets that are sold by us come with a protective mylar cover already, but if you would like to purchase these for your unprotected books they can be obtained from suppliers such as u003ca href=u0022http://www.shopbrodart.com/Book-Jacket-Cover/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eBrodartu003c/au003e or u003ca href=u0022http://www.gaylord.com/listing.asp?H=7u0026amp;PCI=128325u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eGaylord Brothersu003c/au003e.rnrnFor fragile or expensive books, a protective box or slipcase is wise. We can have simple cloth custom clamshell boxes made for any book fairly inexpensively or for a little more you can have a quarter leather custom clamshell box made, which imitates the look of a leather book. Also, leather bindings should once a year be dressed with leather dressing and gently buffed to keep the leather supple.rnu003ch2u003eu003cstrongu003eI have a book you might like. Are you interested?u003c/strongu003eu003c/h2u003ernWe receive dozens of such inquiries each day. Due to the volume of inquiries we receive, we ask that you contact us by fax (561-757-7032) or u003ca href=u0022https://ratis.bvbeta.com/frequently-asked-questions/mail@ratis.bvbeta.comu0022u003eemailu003c/au003e if you have a book you wish to offer us or you can complete this u003ca href=u0022/book-consignment/u0022u003eformu003c/au003e. Please provide images so that we can assess the book’s condition as well as the title and publication date. Please note, we do not generally offer appraisal services.