Frequently Asked Questions

1. What makes a book rare?
Rarity is not simply dependent on age or scarcity. A rare book is one which is important, desirable, and scarce. An important book is one which had a profound effect when printed and which continues to exert influence; important books are in large part desirable because collectors - affected by the book in some way - want a copy.

Many factors influence the scarcity of a book, including printing history, the number of copies printed, the quality of the paper and binding (the more fragile the book, the less likely it will survive in fine condition), any controversy surrounding the book, its popularity (or lack of it), and its genre (for example, children's books - read and handled by children-are difficult to find intact; early herbals, law books, cookbooks and bibles often bear the marks of practical use).

2. What is the difference between edition, printing, issue and state?
An edition includes all copies printed from the same plates or setting of type without substantial change. The first edition is the first public appearance of the text in that form. Any edition can appear in separate printings: each printing includes all of the copies printed from the same plates or setting of type at a given time. (For example, an edition may include 1000 copies, 500 printed in November, the additional 500 printed in January from essentially the same setting of type).

Publishers will often make minor corrections or alterations to a text during the course of printing (accidental changes to the text, intentional minor corrections, the addition of advertisements). When some copies show these minor changes and others do not, and those copies are offered for sale together, the first edition contains copies in various states. Sometimes a bibliographer can determine which state has priority (i.e., was produced first), but often the different states of a first edition co-exist without any such determination.

However, when a change, correction, alteration or addition is intentionally made by the publisher and those copies are treated as a separate unit for publication, the result is a different issue of that first edition. While priority among the different states of a first edition can often not be determined, a first issue always precedes a second issue. In some cases, a later issue might be preferred by collectors. For example, the second issue of Walt Whitman's Drum Taps includes the poet's moving homage to the fallen president Abraham Lincoln, "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd and Other Pieces," a poem not included in the first issue.

3. How do you determine if a book is a first edition?
There is no one, standard way to determine edition: it depends very much on the particular work itself. Many publishers do not consistently identify their first editions (this is especially true of books printed prior to the 20th century). Those that do identify first editions use various methods: some publishers print the words "First Edition" or "First Printing" on the copyright page, or they might use a special symbol or series of numbers to indicate edition. For many works, individual author bibliographies must be consulted in order to be sure that a book is a true first edition. Bibliographers study an author's printed works, and detail the characteristics of the books themselves - including binding, typography, and content. The characteristics they record - the color of a cloth binding, a misspelling on a particular page, or a photograph, award notice or price on a dust jacket - are known as points. Points can be essential to determining the edition, issue and/or state of a particular copy. Our cataloguers work from an extensive library of reference material and check carefully to determine the edition (and issue or state, if appropriate) of any book we offer.

4. How many copies were printed in each first edition? How do you know?
Again, it depends on the book. Obviously, a limited first edition is printed in a specific number, generally noted on the limitation page. In other cases, publisher's records state the number of copies printed of a first edition, or an author may mention the size of a first edition in correspondence. For the majority of first editions, however, the exact number of copies is not known.

5. Do later editions ever have any value, or should I always look for first editions?
The very general rule in book collecting is that the first edition of a particular work is the most desirable. However, as with all general rules, there are numerous exceptions. This is particularly so in the case of non-fiction titles, including historical works and narratives of travel and exploration. In these areas, a second or later edition may be preferable to the first because of additional material, including maps, illustrations or important information not contained in the first. Later editions may also be greatly improved in format and organization over a first edition. Indeed, bibliographers will often designate a "best edition": that is, an edition preferred for its superior organization and content. In literature, there may also be a preference for a later edition: for example, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnets From the Portugese" appears in the second edition of her Poems, not in the first edition.

In the case of some important and early works, a first edition may be unobtainable or nearly unobtainable and thus later editions are often a collector's only recourse. Similarly, some collectors prefer collecting first editions in English. There are several reasons for such a focus: true first editions in the original language may be unobtainable, an English-speaking collector may prefer to collect books he or she can read, or a particular work's impact upon its publication in English may rival the impact of its first publication.

Collectors of modern first editions generally want to acquire copies as close as possible to the work's first appearance. Some of the same exceptions do apply: a beautifully bound set of an author's works can complement a collection of first editions, or a later edition of a favorite work signed by the author or with a wonderful association can be greatly desirable.

6. Why is the dust jacket so important to modern first editions?
Dust jackets or dust wrappers were originally designed to protect a book in transit until it reached the safety of an owner's library. The first recorded use of a dust jacket dates to the mid-19th century, but because of their utilitarian beginnings, they were generally discarded and very early jackets, with few exceptions, do not survive.

The early 20th century, however, saw dust jackets elevated from simple coverings to art forms and promotional aids integral to the book. Because collectors of modern first editions generally want a copy as close as possible to its first appearance in every way, most insist on a dust jacket when obtainable. (Some dust jackets are exceptionally scarce, such as that of The Great Gatsby).

As with books, condition is essential to the value of a dust jacket: Made of paper, they are fragile by nature, and though no longer designed only for protection, they remain the book's first defense against sunlight, humidity, handling, dust, and other stresses. Thus, they can show substantial wear: chipping, fading, darkening, staining and tears. They are still often discarded, and many are more fragile and prone to wear than others (for example, they may be light colored and show wear quite easily, or they may be made of a particularly fragile paper and prone to chipping). Just as the difference in value between a modern first edition with a jacket and a copy without can be considerable, so can the difference in value between a poor jacket and fine or near-fine jacket.

7. How important is condition?
The importance of condition in book collecting can't be underestimated. Copies in exceptional condition are at a premium, and the oft-repeated adage is that a collector should buy the best possible copy that he or she can afford. Often, that means a copy in "fine" condition. But it is also important to keep in mind the particular title, its printing history, and scarcity. A very modern signed first edition might be obtainable in "mint" condition, with virtually no defects, but a mid 19th century narrative of Western exploration printed in America will probably not survive without at least some foxing, or wear or repair to the binding. With very scarce books, a "very good" copy may be the best a collector can hope to find.

8. How are your books guaranteed? What if the book just isn't what I wanted? Can I return it?
All of our books are meticulously researched and catalogued, and they are guaranteed as described. Our guarantee includes all signatures and autographs. All items ordered through our website or catalogues are fully returnable within ten days for any reason. Also see our Terms of Sale.

9. I'd like to start collecting books. How do I decide what to collect?
The decision about what to collect is a very personal one. The most important guideline is to collect what you like, what you respect, and what has affected you. That said, there are numerous ways to design a collection. A collector can focus on first editions of authors' first novels, first editions of each title in a single author's oeuvre, the landmark and revolutionary printed works-ranging from Shakespeare to Einstein, or on great works in specific subject areas such as science, math, literature, history, law, or exploration. He or she can collect the great printed productions - artists' books, fine bindings, superbly illustrated books or great plate books. Within every subject there are numerous variations. Whatever your focus, our staff will work closely with you to help design a collection suited to your interests. For an in-depth discussion of collecting rare books, please see the On Collecting and Index of Articles pages of our website.

10. Can you suggest any references or resources to help me get started collecting?
Please see our section on References & Resources.

11. Do I need to make special provisions for these books in my home?
In general, books are designed to be handled and read and to last. They should be handled with care and usually require little maintenance, but there are some important guidelines.

Books should be kept in a relatively stable environment, one that is not too hot, too cold, too dry or too damp. Very high humidity can damage books, warping boards and encouraging mold, and should be avoided. The simplest solution to high humidity in the library is the same as in the house: air conditioning.

Books must be kept away from direct sunlight, which will fade and destroy leather bindings and fade dust jackets. Each of our dust-jacketed books comes in a protective acid-free mylar jacket which should remain on the book at all times. Sometimes, with our rarer or more fragile books, we have had a protective clamshell box made. At the client's request, we can have a box or slipcase made for any book. We also recommend that periodically, perhaps once a year, some leather bindings should be dressed with special leather dressing and gently buffed to keep the leather supple.

12. I have a library in my home. How can you go about filling it? How much would it cost?
One part of our business is custom designing libraries for our clients. We begin by identifying your areas of interest and your preferences, your proposed budget, the library's dimensions, the types of shelves you have, and the approximate number of books you require. After discussing your interests and details, a staff member will prepare and submit a list of suggestions (including sets and/or individual volumes) for your review. Our staff works closely with you to make certain that your library reflects your interests and tastes and is within your budget.

13. Are rare books a good investment?
Book collecting has traditionally been a conservative market that has moved slowly but consistently upward with very little volatility or drastic fluctuations in price; rare books have generally proven to be excellent investments over the years. However, the growing popularity of rare books and the greater demand for the great and landmark books have seen prices rise dramatically in recent years.

14. Do I need to insure my collection? How do I do that?
Usually, your regular householder's insurance policy will cover the value of your collection, but you should check with your insurance agent. You may want to have the agent draw up a rider policy, depending on the value of the collection.

15. Do you appraise books?
We do not usually offer an appraisal service. If you have books to sell, please see our books to sell page.