ABC for Book Collectors

This reference contains over 450 alphabetical entries ranging in length from a single line to several pages. Each entry consists of a definition and analysis of the technical terms of book collecting and bibliography, interspersed with comments on such subjects as auctions, facsimiles, fakes and pirated editions. It should be a valuable book for any collector baffled by the technical language of an auction catalogue, or a bookseller wanting to widen his or her knowledge of these bibliographical terms.

This seventh edition of John Carter's classic text contains in-depth descriptions of every aspect of antique and modern book collecting from A to Z. All terms are alphabetized for quick reference, including how to take care of pigskin, morocco, or Russian leather, how to tell japon vellum from India proof paper and how to determine "very good copy" in a collectible volume. For first edition collectors, Carter's definition of "follow the flag" explains the historical issues surrounding first and native first texts. The book's pages are charmingly labeled, showing you exactly where the half-title and tailpiece are located and what a printer's imprint page looks like.