How to Start a Book Collection
Read any good books lately? If you see a book on your favorite subject, say a mystery or a cookbook, do you feel compelled to buy it? Do you have a shelf full of science fiction books or books about World War II, the Civil War, or children's books? Can you find half a dozen books you like on the book shop remainder table? Then you already have the start of a book collection--a passion for a certain kind of book. If you are thinking of turning that passion into a hobby, then you may want to start a book collection.
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Instructions
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Decide What to Collect
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Look up various types of book collections: a single subject, a single author, numerous versions of a single classic book, sets of series, or, if your goal is primarily investment, rare books and first editions. Even paperbacks can be valuable. Check out the Books and Book Collecting site. Keep it simple--which do you like best (see Resources below)?
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Look up prices for books in your chosen area. Are they affordable for you?
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Think about the conditions necessary to keep your collection in good shape--cool and dry with limited exposure to light. Can you provide those conditions?
Start a Book Collection
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Figure out the best place to obtain the type of books you collect. Start with secondhand stores, flea markets and garage sales, often fertile fields for book collectors.
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Check informational sites such as Alabris to find out more about what and how to collect (see Resources below).
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Set aside a room or section of a room for your collection. Organize the books in any way you like, but do organize them.
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Get in touch with other collectors through websites like Alabris and magazines such as those listed at The Harbinger (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
If the the prime factor in real estate is "location, location, location," then in book collecting it is "condition, condition, condition." If you want your books to have any more than sentimental value, you must buy and keep them in good condition by industry standards.
Keep good records. A descriptive bibliography of your collection is essential.
Remember, you are starting a collection, not a library. Stick to your specialty, whatever it may be, and don't wander off.
Leather binding as a criterion for collecting is not a good choice. The value of well-kept leather bound books is primarily cosmetic and a concern for interior designers, not book collectors.
Editions from mail-order book clubs are not very valuable.
