Many people on the web talk about Antique books but that is actually not the correct term to use when talking about collecting old books, the correct term is antiquarian. Antiquarian basically means old or indeed second-hand; but in the antiquarian book trade it generally means a book of more than 100 years of age. So if you find a book printed in 1909 it is by definition a true antiquarian book. However as I started selling books in 1989 I have always looked for books from 1890 or before.
In the world of books just because a book is written before a certain date however does not necessarily make it immediately collectable. You of course, look at subject matter, condition, illustrated or not, maps, what language is it in, has it got a nice cover with any gold embossing, is the cover hard or soft. That's the sort of thing that instantly must flash through your mind when picking up that possible purchase or looking online, where a picture tells a thousand words.
The two most important things are condition and subject, if a book is falling to pieces it isn't worth much unless it is really old. As I am interested in ancient history and Egyptology, specifically the period of the Pharaoh Akhenaton, (18th and 19th Dynasties). I would obviously want a good book on that period, perhaps a journal report from Flinders Petrie or Peet on the Cemeteries of Amarna.
However if we look at more modern publications even from the last 30 years such as Geoffrey Martin's books on the Royal Tomb at Amarna we can find books that are highly collectable today and indeed these will be worth a great deal of money in years to come, they are future collectable classics.
I hope that when you next surf the net or enter an antiquarian bookshop you may feel a little more confident of your purchasing skills. Remember to buy what you are interested in, chances are others will be too and $150 or so now will be worth a great deal more in years to come. In my opinion antiquarian books on a shelf in your house are not only great to read but they can be a long-term investment, and a joy to the eye, adding to the ascetics and ambiance of your home.
To learn more about antiquarian books visit this blog.
About this Author
Jennifer Jaeger is Australia's first agent for the Egypt Exploration Society and proprietor of Fine Egyptology and Ancient History books. Jennifer's love of Ancient History has led her to form a successful career importing and selling rare second hand & new books and journals specializing in her field of interest.
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