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In most industries, mistakes cost money--sometimes lots of money. In the world of rare books, however, mistakes can impact a book's value in a quite a different way. Called errata, mistakes made in books may include spelling errors, word omissions, or the use of a different word in place of the intended one.
We all have our favorite--and not-so-favorite authors. The same goes for writers themselves, and through the years many bitter rivalries have sprung up between legendary authors. A look at some of the most famous:
On July 23, 1829 William Austin Burt filed for US patent No. 5581X. He called his invention the typographer, but today wed refer to it as a typewriter. While others had designed similar machines, Burts was the first of its kind in the United Statesand the first model that was actually practical for use. The device eventually changed the way authors worked, and some contemporary authors still prefer their trusty typewriters to computers.
Happy Independence Day! In the United States, today marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The event precipitated the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Here's a look at some little-known facts about America's founding fathers:
We rare book collectors have all seen it: a dealer, librarian, or other expert dons a spotless pair of white gloves before laying a single finger on some priceless volume. The practice is especially common in special collections libraries, where white gloves are considered an integral part of protecting antiquarian books. Should collectors follow suit and use the gloves for handling antiquarian books in their personal libraries?
If youve found rare books in unlikely places, such as garage sales or in long forgotten boxes, youve probably also encountered books that are in less than pristine condition. These books may be valuableand downright dirty. But should you clean these rare books, or leave the dirt as part of the books patina?
