WHY BLOG ABOUT VINTAGE BOOKS?
There may be questions why I decided to do a Blog. All I can say is I have spent most of my life in pursuit of vintage books. I have bought, sold and collected many of the most sought-after books and developed quite an expertise over many years. I love sharing my knowledge and experiences is a primary reason, but there are others.
For example, I was recently reading a Blog that suggests a first edition of Homer’s The Odyssey might be a great book for new collector to look for as it’s quite valuable. This brought a chuckle because the first edition of The Odyssey was published in 1488 in Milan and written in Greek. It’s extremely unlikely that someone rummaging through a thrift store or even a used bookstore is going to find a copy (although stranger things have happened). And, while there were many later editions published in the following centuries, most have little value, maybe $50 at best. Perhaps that’s a first lesson for new collectors – just because a book is old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s desired by collectors or valuable. But I digress (I will have a more detailed post on this topic in the future).
First known published edition of The Odyssey from the 15th century.
Lastly, even though I consider myself to be an expert, I know there is still much more to learn about Vintage Books and thus, hope our interactions will provide an opportunity for me to learn from you as well.
Why Collect?
Collecting is a passion. If you are a collector, you know this. It doesn’t matter if its coins, comic books, vintage cars or designer shoes, it is something in our DNA that gets us excited about acquiring the subject of our interest. If you collect, you love your collection and enjoy talking about it to those interested (and even uninterested). Furthermore, collectors enjoy interacting with other collectors (another reason for this Blog).
Finally, collectors often display a neurotic need to protect and preserve the items they collect. I like to believe this is a noble thing, to preserve these cultural and literary artifacts for future generations. While this is generally true, I also believe collectors like to “show off” a bit by having the most well-preserved copy of a particular book and love to compete for items in the best condition. Yes, there is a bit of competition and “showing off” in book collecting, who knew!
So, let’s pull up a virtual chair and share knowledge about Vintage Books, it will be fun and rewarding, I promise.
Sincerely, Mike
Although a suggestive cover, this is a comic book. The artist is Matt Baker who also illustrated magazines and digests. This book is my favorite, but I can’t seem to ever find it in nice condition.
Diary Secrets, St. John Comics (1950). Value $500+
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