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Collecting 101

Sanderson Collectors Guild


Why Collect?

There are many reasons to collect. Some love the challenge of finding rare editions; others simply love how the books look on the shelves.  Whether you're interested in the look of your shelves, the thrill of the hunt, the investment opportunity, or the community, every collector's reason for collecting is as varied as the books themselves.

What to Collect?

You can go the "completionist" route and try and get one of everything, or you can focus on specific kinds of books, or even a single title.  Some collectors like to get books from certain publishers, or in various languages.  Others like to focus on artwork and other non-book items (cards, figurine's, prints, etc.). Decide what sounds interesting to you, and go for it.  There's no wrong way to collect.


Things to Look For

Condition - The fewer the rips, dings, tears, scuffs, creases, and marks a book has, the more valuable it is.

Format - Not every title is available in every format.  hardcovers tend to be more valuable than paperbacks.

Number/Letter - For some books, a portion of the first printing is set aside to be numbered or lettered.  These tend to be some of the most desirable editions of a book.

Number Line - Most editions include a number line on the copyright page to show whether this is the first, second, etc press run of the book.  The lowest number on the line is the "printing", and first printings are the most sought-after.  Here are two examples of "first printing" number lines:

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1           or             1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

Signature - A book signed by the author is more valuable than an unsigned one.  Signatures range from direct signatures (most valuable) to tip-ins, bookplates, and pre-printed signatures (least valuable).


Collection Tips

Know what you want - How rare is the book?  The first deal you find isn't necessarily the best one; is there another one out there that's a better option? 

Know its value - A lot of sellers want to make a quick profit.  Knowing an items tur value can save you a lot of money if you're patient.

Do your research - Learn what sites exist for used and rare books.  Look at sale history and build relationships with other collectors.

Ask for help - There's always another secret... and you don't have to figure it out alone.


Storing and Protecting Books

To maximize the life of a book, store it upright with similar-sized books and out of direct sunlight.  Dust it regularly to discourage mold and insects; slipcases can be extremely effective for this.  Extreme temperatures and humidity (too high and too low) can damage bindings.  When handling, make sure your hands are clean and free of alcohol-based cleansers (hand sanitizer, etc.) as these can damage the book.


Basic Terminology

1/1 - Shorthand for "first edition, first printing".  Example: "That's a 1/1 Mistborn."

ARC - "Advance Reader Copy" - a near-final version of the book provided to reviewers prior to release.  Typically one of the rarest editions of a book.

BCE - 'Book Club Edition" - an edition of the book exclusive to online book clubs.  Typically identified by a number in a white box on the back cover, near the barcode.

Bookplate - A sticker placed in a book after purchase.  Sometimes signed by the author.

Brodart Cover - Clear plastic cover for books to preserve dust jackets and prevent tears.

Casewrapped - A hardcover book where the cover art is printed directly on the board and there is no dust jacket.  Sometimes also called a "turtleback".

Dust jacket - The decorative paper cover placed around the book to protect the binding.

Edition -  The major "version number" of the book.  Often incorrectly conflated with the "printing".  Almost all books published after 1990 are first editions.

Leatherbound - A hardcover edition that is bound in leather with (usually) glided lettering and designs.  Sometimes abbreviated as "LB".

Lined - An inscription by the author with a phrase or quote from the book.  Example: "Claim the stars!"

MMPB - "Mass Market Paperback" - The smallest, cheapest, and most common form of paperback.

Personalized - An inscription by the author intended for a specific person.  Usually lowers the resale value.  Example: "To Mark, Happy birthday! - Brandon"

Printing - The press run of the book.  Typically, lower printings are more valuable.

Remainder Mark - Usually a back dot on an outside edge of the pages, indicating the book cannot be returned.  Can decrease the value of the book.

Tip-in - A page signed by the author that is inserted during binding.


More Information

Collection Sanderson - collectingsanderson.com - Visit our site to see the ever-growing data of books, join our online community, and show off your collection.

Book Collecting Guide - abebooks.com/books/rarebooks/collecting-guide/book-collecting-guide.shtml - A comprehensive guide to starting a collection, caring for it, and understanding bookseller terminology.

The Sanderson Collector - youtube.com/TheSandersonCollector - Mark Lindberg's YouTube channel cataloging his personal (and the world's most complete) collection of Brandon Sanderson books.





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