Book Collector Helper - A Quaint Book Blog

First Editions – Part 1: Defining “First Edition”

Posted by J Wesley Baker on

When a collector is looking for a first edition, he or she is seeking a book from the first printing, not a later printing, even if the text and binding remain the same. To make the point, the Ahearns write that “for a collector, the first edition/first printing is the most desirable” (p. 7, emphasis added). Using both terms might seem redundant but describing a book as “first edition/first printing” removes any doubt of what is meant.

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Understanding the various formats of a single book

Posted by J Wesley Baker on

One thing that can be confusing for someone who is starting out collecting books is telling the difference between the various formats of a book. This post provides tips on identifying Trade, Book Club, Large Format, Trade Paperback and Mass Market Paperbook books.

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