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Collecting books is an interesting hobby, yet can be overwhelming to the novice collector. With so many books, how does one get started?
The key to successful book collecting is to focus on your interests in a particular genre in conjunction with a selected time period. Narrowing down the focus makes the job more enjoyable and less of a tedious task.
For instance, rather than collecting books about Sports Events, consider collecting books about Sports Events during the World War II period. Instead of collecting cookbooks, consider collecting speciality cookbooks from a certain time period, such as 1920-1930. You may also want to collect cookbooks focusing on just vegetarian dishes or desserts.
Dust jackets increase a book's value tremendously. Dust jackets became popular in the 1920's with the purpose of dressing up a book and increasing the book's worth. Finding an older book with a relatively new dust cover still intact will certainly prove to be more rewarding than the same book without the dust cover.
Search the books themselves for author's signatures and "first edition" dates. If a book claims to be "first edition", or contains original lithograph engravings and pictures it is highly desirable. Check the spine's condition as well. A firm spine and pages intact are what a collector seeks.
Cookbooks are highly desirable to collectors. The older cookbooks compared to modern day ones show how much society has changed in culture and eating habits. Older cookbooks will show more use of "lard" for cooking, while modern cookbooks are of course more connected with healthy eating. Collecting a particularly brand of cookbooks, such as The Joy Of Cooking, is a favorite among avid collectors.
Another highly desirable series is any modern-day design book, which often go out of print quickly. Design books from the seventies could boast features such as Lava Lamps when they weren't considered a novelty as they are now! These type of books are treasured for both their aesthetical and historical value.
Children's books such as Nancy Drew first editions are a profitable find. Collectors especially seek out any book which has won the Caldecott or Newbery Awards (for illustrations and literature, respectively).
Book collectors can find slews of books at thrift shops, estate sales, garage sales, auctions, antique shops and individuals selling through various online sites. What better treasure than a good book, where you can enjoy the find for both the monetary value and reading pleasure!
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