Instant Expert: Collecting Books
- Book Review,
by Matthew Budman
Fine Books & Collections, September/October 2004
"the essential book for any beginning collector."
AB Bookman’s Weekly, June 2004
"what this book does is open doors and minds to the art and the science of book collecting, painlessly."
The Old Times, July 2004
"a solid little guide for beginners with some useful information for those further along the bibliophile journey."
Book Description
Maybe you find yourself surrounded by books and aren’t sure whether it all constitutes a genuine collection. Maybe you suspect that some of your books are worth a lot more than you paid for them -- or that they’re not as valuable as you’d hoped. Maybe, simply, you’re fascinated by the book-collecting hobby and don’t know where to begin. Whatever the reasons that draw you to pick up this small volume, it can help. The object of collecting should be to surround yourself with books that make you happy -- and proud. If they happen to be worth a lot, that’s a bonus. This doesn’t mean, of course, that getting ripped off is OK. It’s not -- which is why "Collecting Books" discusses why those John Grisham first editions aren’t such a great investment, how to make sure that the book you’re paying for is the one you get, and how there’s money to be made selling books -- but that making that money may drain the hobby of the fun that you got into it for. You’ll also learn things about the hobby that have nothing to do with monetary value: why bookstores offer buying opportunities and experiences that the Internet can’t duplicate, places to find used books that you may not even know about, why different copies of the same title can look nothing alike, the supreme importance of condition, the best ways to sell or donate the books you don’t want in order to make room for the books you do, and the trickiest bit of all -- how to tell if a book is a first edition. All in all, enough to get you started.
From the Author
Hi all! I’ve been collecting books since high school, usually on an extremely limited budget, and I wrote "Collecting Books" for people who love books but are justifiably leery of the intimidating antiquarian book hobby. It’s a hobby that anyone can engage in, at any price level. "Collecting Books" encourages novices to leap in by choosing a focus that speaks to them personally, and it delivers enough information to get them started. It’s easier than you think! --Matthew Budman
From the Inside Flap
Everything you need to know: what is collectible, strategies for buying and selling, the value of an author autograph, how books are made and more. This is a comprehensive guide to online resources, conferences and conventions, shops, organizations and an annotated bibliography. For the millions of reader who love books!
About the Author
Matthew Budman began collecting books at the age of eight and currently has a 12,000 book library--from valuable first editions to pocket books and everything in between. He is the managing editor of Across the Board, a NewYork based management magazine. He is co-author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Heroes and has been a professional book reviewer since 1991.
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