{antique books}
How to identify a 1st Edition Book
Antiques books can be very collectable and as such can be very valuable. However, the most valuable and indeed collectable antique books are 1st editions. Collecting 1st editions can be a minefield and you could end up spending your cash on a almost worthless edition if you are not careful. The following information will give you a general rule of thumb which should help you determine whether or not your book is a 1st edition.
The first thing to think about when appraising a book is the date. Generally speaking if the book is indeed a 1st edition you should only see one date. There is sometimes a copyright date and a first published date but these are normally no more than a year apart. The only other date you may see in a 1st edition would be a date the book was published in another country, this is not normally problematic.
Publishers can often be very helpful by stating 2nd edition, 3rd edition or it says reprinted …… Occasionally however, publishers will often reprint antique books using the original plates and as such these are no longer 1st editions. If a book has no printed date at all, then it is more than likely to be a later edition. A good resource would be the worlds reference libraries, these will supply you with a publication date and they often specify whether or not the book was originally dated.
The above information is a general rule of thumb for antique books. However, as with most things there are always exceptions to these rules. There has even been cases of 1st edition dust jackets being put on later edition books. I always adopt the mantra of buying books I am interested in, at a fair price which I think are 1st editions. The best places I have found for 1st editions is car boot sales, junk shops and second hand book stores. I have picked up 1st edition books for 10p and sold them for several hundred pounds. If you know what you are looking for antique books can be very financially rewarding.
About the Author
Chris Farnworth is the owner of www.antiquesattic.co.uk and has many years in the antiques trade. Please do not hesiate to contact me if you require any further information on 1st edition antique books