Guide to Collecting Rare Books

Presented by Erik Bosee

Add more rare books to your collection! Learn tips, tricks and techniques for collecting rare and collectible books in this free collector video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Series Summary

A first edition of “On the Road,” a signed copy of “The Man in the High Castle,” a early version of Wilde’s “Salome” with the Aubrey Beardsley cover intact…these are some of the holy grails of the rare book world and each worth a great deal. Indeed, the exciting world of book collecting has its share of fortunes to be made, but not all of these are through honest means. Illicit copies abound, so buyers must know exactly what to look for before investing in a rare book. Sellers must know exactly how to describe their books to potential customers wary of a scam and how to avoid inaccurate listings.

In this series of book collecting videos, a bookselling professional gives you expert advice on how to collect old books, including how to find rare books at trade shows. He will also demonstrate how to determine if a book is actually a first edition. You will learn how to determine the value of a book and decide whether or not you should attempt to repair it.

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How to Catalog a Book Collection

Organize that precious book collection! Learn tips for cataloging your book collection in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Collecting Autographed and Inscribed Books

How much does an autograph increase the value of a book? Learn tips for collecting autographed and inscribed books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

How to Find Rare Books

Which books are treasures and which are trash? Learn how to find rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Terms Used to Describe Rare Books

E-bay rare book descriptions will likely include these terms. Learn about terms used when discussing rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Researching the Value of Rare Books

How to find out how much a book is worth. Learn how to research the value of rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Evaluating Condition of Rare Books

Tips for determining condition of an old book. Learn about the importance of the condition of rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Advertising Pages in Rare Books

Ad in the back of a book help to determine its age. Learn how advertising can help determine printing version of rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Finding Rare Books at Book Trade Shows

Buying rare books from collectible book dealers. Learn how to find rare books at book trade shows in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

Tips for Repairing Rare Books

Should you try to repair a book or would that detract from the value? Learn how to tell if a damaged collectible book shoud be restored or rebound in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

How to Care for Rare Books

Take care of your book investment! Learn how to care for rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer.

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