Its that time of year when many of us begin to get that itch to get away. Summer is right around the corner, and with it the mystical promise of summer travel. If youre stuck at home this holiday season, or looking for a little inspiration for this years travels, you may find help from a seemingly unlikely source: Mark Twain. Thats right: this titan of American literature got his start as a travel writer.
Its about that time: Tax day has arrived, and US citizens owe the Internal Revenue Service an account of all their assets and income. What better day to explore how we assess the value of our rare books? If youve recently purchased a book, you may have a pretty firm grasp of what its worth. But several factors can impact your books value.
As a collector of rare books, your goal is to keep your collection in optimum shape. Youre careful with dust jackets and protect fragile books with clamshell cases. Even the way you shelve your rare books can impact their condition. Its important that your home library provides the support and protection that rare books need.
Umberto Eco could use a few of these tips in his personal library!
Mother Nature can wreak havoc on rare books. Sunning, water damage, and humidity can all cause damage to your collection. Another enemy of your books may also be lurking on your shelves: the dreaded bookworm. Bookworms will tunnel right into the block, riddling the book with countless gullies and channels.
We all know that aroma. Perhaps it evokes trips to the library as a child, or the cozy ambience of a grandfathers study. Its the distinctive scent of old or used books.
The process of gilding has existed since ancient times, when both Greeks and Egyptians covered wooden statues in metal. The technique was picked up by book binders as a means to protect pages from the oils and dirt of human handsin addition to making the book itself more beautiful.
Last week Frida Kahlos copy of Edgar Allan Poe sold at auction for $24,000. Why was the rather tattered copy so valuable? Kahlo filled the book with artistic marginalia. The price of this book reflects the value of association copies, that is, books that are affiliated with a famous person or someone close to the author.
Weve recently been lucky enough to acquire a beautiful collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs books. Best known for his Tarzan novels, Burroughs was one of the most prolific authors of the early 20th century. His sci-fi and fantasy novels inspired a generation of writers, artists, producers, and even scientists.
Book collecting is an incredibly accessible pastime. Collectors can spend as much or as little as they'd like, and there is plenty of information available to inform their choices. Some rare books, however, are so scarce that only the most elite can afford them. Here's a look at some of the rarest books in the world.
