Hobbies And Interests
Significance
Most book collectors begin as readers, and come at collecting from a reader or fan's standpoint. Most readers are content to buy or borrow any old copy of a book they like, and only a few make the transition from reader to collector. They may begin by purchasing an old volume of a favorite book or by considering the investment side of buying a first edition book. They often move into full-fledged collecting before realizing they have, since they buy collectible books slowly, one at a time. For this reason, they are often called bibliophiles.
Types
People become book collectors for main three reasons: They enjoy book collecting, they love books or they see the investment potential in books. First -edition books may be enjoyed as financially profitable, as art or as the end reward for an exciting chase. One doeas not need to be rich to start collecting books and first editions, though only the wealthy are able to buy highly sought-after works like the Gutenberg Bible or Shakespeare's First Folio. Some book collectors look exclusively for antiquarian books printed before the 20th century, but collectors can begin with any work by any writer, even modern writers whose first editions are not yet valuable.
Features
Most book collections are not filled with random titles, since a focused collection has more worth academically and financially. Book collectors may specialize in areas of interest like fictional genre, author or nonfiction subject, or may devise collections based on a particular theme like creationist theory or transcendentalism. Collections may also be categorized by award-winning books, comic books, illustrated books, antiquarian or incunabula books, miniature books, publishers, paper type, series, book design and of course, first editions. Some collectors prefer to buy as many different editions of a single popular book as possible, often gravitating toward the classics like "Alice in Wonderland" and "A Christmas Carol."
History
Ancient Romans like Cicero and Atticus were known for their private collections of books. In the 16th and 17th centuries, people like Henry, Prince of Wales and Jacques Auguste de Thou amassed the best books of their time for studying purposes, not for collecting purposes. Often, these old collections were created in an attempt to promote research and learning. Thomas Jefferson's private library, containing thousands of books, eventually became the basis for the Library of Congress. However, he was not collecting.
Considerations
In the book collecting community, particularly when it comes to first-edition collections, there is a general consensus that a collector is responsible for making careful selections, caring for his books properly and ensuring that the collection will be cared for after his death. A conscientious collector, at little extra cost, can make a collection worth considerably more than an indiscriminate collector who buys the same number of books. The collection's worth can be ensured to last past its owner's lifespan with some precautions taken to make sure it will be delivered into appreciative hands. When a book collector without a will dies, the government is often not careful in selling the collection off piece by piece. Some collectors prefer to leave their books to museums or libraries, or to descendants that are aware of the financial worth.