Sometimes two copies of a book will be similar enough to appear identical to a layperson, even though one copy was published first, and the other copies were printed some years later. The front cover won’t give you the answer;…
A book may appear pristine until you open it to find a torn hinge, missing plate, or dust jacket that doesn’t fit. If you flip around haphazardly, you may miss those defects. Following a set inspection order provides a framework…
At first glance, a copyright page can appear as a jumble of dates, disclaimers, codes, and publisher information. For a collector, however, it is one of the most helpful pages in a book. It may tell you the edition, point…
The danger of being a book collector is that a bookshelf can grow quite quickly. You pick up an illustrated travel book, and then a tattered poetry anthology, and then a regional history book because the binding is so intriguing.…