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!
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"a solid little guide for beginners with some useful information for those further along the bibliophile journey." -- The Old Times, July 2004
"the essential book for any beginning collector." -- Fine Books & Collections, September/October 2004
"what this book does is open doors and minds to the art and the science of book collecting, painlessly." -- AB Bookman’s Weekly, June 2004
"the essential book for any beginning collector." -- Fine Books & Collections, September/October 2004
"what this book does is open doors and minds to the art and the science of book collecting, painlessly." -- AB Bookman’s Weekly, June 2004
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
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent place to start,
By Anne K. (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Instant Expert: Collecting Books (Paperback)
I have collected books all my life, and incidentally sell them as I try to make room for more. I recommend this book as the best one on the market right now for true beginners to either book collecting or book selling. It is frank, unsnobbish, and it is very realistic about the changes (good and bad) the Internet has brought to the book market.
Some books on book collecting seem intent on convincing you that book collecting is worthwhile. That is not this author's approach. He takes it for granted that you want to collect or deal in books. What kind of books is up to you -- he is refreshingly unstuffy about that. But if you have an interest in buying or selling books already, the information in this book will make you a much more effective collector/seller.
50 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What's this book worth?,
By
This review is from: Instant Expert: Collecting Books (Paperback)
It's my great pleasure to be the first to submit a review on this wonderful little book.I almost passed it by for two reasons.First, it was not in the bookstore section where 'books on books' are usually found;normally in the section near Literary Criticism,etc.It was in the section of Antiques and Collectibles;which is where books on price lists of First Editions are found,which I don't find very useful and usually pass by.So,you never know where a good book will be.One of my favorites 'books on books' "At Home With Books" by Estelle Ellis was kept in the Home Improvement section.Secondly,since I have quite a few 'books on books',I thought this small fellow was insignificant.However,I thumbed through it, and found it very good.It is particularly up-to-date with modern book buying,book fairs,sales,remainders,and most of all the Internet world of books.Granted,it has overtones about it that collecting books is all about First Editions and Rare Book dealers;present day booking and building a personal collection for enjoyment versus profit is a great hobby.Not only that,it is far easier and much less costly than it ever was in the past.In the last 10-12 years ,I have built up a collection of 6,000 books at a very modest cost and a lot of enjoyable searching. This book is loaded with a lot of things for a person who reads a lot,enjoys having books around them,and wants to know how to acquire them at minimal cost,and at the same time having little interest in 'how much can I get for it'.Personally,I give most of my "extras" away when making room for more. I have 'found' my books at many different places,all mentioned in this book in one way or another;and found the authors remarks right on the mark. The Resource Guide in Chapter 4 including ,On-Line Resources,Books on Books,Collecting,Magazines,Associations,Sales,Supplies,Software,and Shops are all excellent and very up to date. This is certainly a book you will want to keep after reading;particularly if you have a modest collection,which could be anything in excess of several hundred books,and love the hunt. It may well be a bit too basic for a seasoned First Edition collectors.If one doesn't already know what's in this book,maybe they should rethink their 'hobby'. As to what it's worth? Like any book the answer is from nothing to priceless,that depends on you. A check on Bookfinder lists it from $4.93 to$27.94 and it's just off the press.What will it go for in a few years;who knows?But,then again,I didn't buy it to sell it.I bought it to have it.I wouldn't even try to sell it,but would gladly 'lend' it to someone on their way to building a collection,even if I knew I might not see it again. Isn't that what booking is all about? A giant leap forward has already occurred and I fully expect that the migration of books from one person who no longer wants them to someone who does, will continue to expand.What I suspect in the future is the growih of large swaps and trade events.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enthusiastic and entertaining, although opinionated, rambling and discursive,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Instant Expert: Collecting Books (Paperback)
This short introduction to book collecting is a quick, witty and entertaining read. The author's enthusiasm for collecting is obvious.
This is an easy to read, entertaining, and opinionated guide to book collecting. If you are new to this hobby, and have an interest in building a collection that may increase in value over time, this book can be strongly recommended, especially in view of its low price. The book focuses more on the financial, rather than the reading or educational aspects of this passion. The author spends much more time providing advice on how to collect books that may gain value compared to helping you find inexpensive reading editions, nor does he provide or point the reader to focused reading guides. However, Mr. Budman does present a clear discussion of the pitfalls of entering this hobby with the hope of making money. Experienced collectors will find a kindred spirit, although probably little new information. There is the occasional editing error, as when the author mentions the term "toned", referring us to the glossary to find its meaning, although "toned" is not in the glossary. In summary, more experienced collectors, or those focused more toward reading or education, may want to examine this at their bookstore or library before buying. However, for new collectors this will be a valuable addition to their library, one that can be highly recommended.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
