Eric Knowles Antiques: A Beginner's Guide with Over 1, 400 Illustrations

Product Information

Association copy – A copy once owned by a well-known person or author or someone connected with the author or the book. The book may be inscribed by the author to the person or simply from the library of that person. Collecting ‘association copies’ can be one of the more exciting areas of book collecting. Browning – An overall discoloration found in the paper of some old books, sometimes due to the decomposition of the paper coating. Facsimile edition – An attempt (usually done much later) to reproduce as closely as possible the first edition of a famous book.

If possible identify the book's date of publication. Complete the date fields - if you have identified the exact year of publication then put the same date into both fields. If you are unsure, you may to wish to search for books between two defined dates - eg 1870 and 1880. Bindings – A term generally used in the antiquarian book world to mean Fine Bindings, of which there are numerous styles. Some examples include Antique, Cambridge Style, La Greque, Dos-A-Dos, Etruscan, and Spanish Calf.Foxing – A patchy discoloration found in the paper of old books that have been improperly stored or exposed to high humidity. It can range from barely visible to quite unsightly. The name may derive from the fox-like reddish-brown color of the stains, or the rust chemical Ferric Oxide which may be involved. Paper so affected is said to be “foxed.” Although a negative factor in the value of the item for collectors, foxing does not affect the actual integrity of the paper.

Impression – Synonymous with printing. The number of copies of an edition printed from one type setting. One edition may have more than one impression. Ephemera – An item that was usually created for reading and then subsequent disposal. Examples include letters, advertisements, magazines and newspapers. Octavo – A book size resulting from folding a sheet with three right angle folds. In bookselling terminology, a book measuring from about eight to ten inches in height. Beveled – Boards (edges or boards) that are cut at an oblique angle prior to covering, as opposed to the standard 90 degree cut.Broadside – A printing, often a poem, which occurs on a single sheet of paper and only on one side; the verso (other side) is blank. When printed on both sides, the sheet becomes a “broadsheet”. Bumped – Refers to the corners or spine ends of a book that has been damaged by being dropped, or carelessly handled or shelved.

The keyword field is useful if you know the illustrator's name or some other defining aspect like the book's binding (perhaps it's leather or cloth). Bookplate – A label on the front pastedown or flyleaf or sometimes elsewhere in the book, used to mark ownership. Unless it is the book plate of a well-known person, this usually decreases the value of a book. Alternatively, a bookplate is sometimes signed by the author and then included in the book. While not as valuable as having the signature on the book itself, this can be a nice collectible. Very Good – A description of condition implying some slight wear. A book so described would usually be acceptable to all but the most condition-conscious of collectors. Good – A description of condition implying some degree of wear but structural soundness and reasonably good appearance. A book described as good will not usually appeal to the fastidious collector unless the book is extremely rare, but books in good condition may prove a bargain for the general collector or when fine copies are priced out of budget.

Valuable Antiques Worth Searching For

Review Copy – A copy of a book sent out for review prior to publication. Review copies may be marked by a note on an endpaper or flyleaf (rare today), or by a slip of paper inserted into the book, which is more common at present.