How to recognnize an original antique book or print?
Posted by admin
WTFK asked:
1-I have recently gotten into collecting antique books (16th,17th,18th century), and I was wondering, if in a nutshell anybody could tell me how to recognize a fake from an original.
2-And I have been recently looking at ebay antiques section and they have amazing things there, but how do I know if the antiques on ebay are original or fakes? I ask the seller questions but people lie to sell.
anyone can help me?
Has anyone ever bought antiques of ebay?
ROOSEVELT
1-I have recently gotten into collecting antique books (16th,17th,18th century), and I was wondering, if in a nutshell anybody could tell me how to recognize a fake from an original.
2-And I have been recently looking at ebay antiques section and they have amazing things there, but how do I know if the antiques on ebay are original or fakes? I ask the seller questions but people lie to sell.
anyone can help me?
Has anyone ever bought antiques of ebay?
ROOSEVELT
December 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
CURTIS
You need alot of book learning. Books are an art unto themselves. It is difficult to determine the rarity of a book because publisher’s have ways of doing things with first editions that you need to know. Some publishers called every book a first edition, when in fact they were not a first edition. If you really want to collect antique books, take classes or try to work part time for a book collector. This is a very sophisticated art…book collecting. If you want a good hint and some fun reading, try buying or borrowing any of the murder mystery books by John Dunning. The “hero” is Cliff Janeway and the murders always involved rare books. They are good reads but as many books do, there is background information in the books that tell you just how complicated book collecting can be.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:21 am
NICKOLAS
Most antique books of value are “first editions” It is difficult to tell if a book is a first edition. The first link tells how to determine if it is NOT a first edition. You, of course, know that every book has, or should have, a copyright date on the first page or two of the book, right?
A print, even a fine art print, is by definition, not original, but I think I know what you mean. Each print should have edition printed on it. It will look something like 20/80. This means this is the 20th print of a run of 80. Modern print making techniques have made the edition number moot for all but collectors. The second link goes into some detail on the history and current state of the print market.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:47 am
LOYD
Either check with various rare booksellers or go to the Sothbey’s and Christie’s auction house websites and post your questions there. If that doesn’t work you can also post your question on the Library of Congress’ website at: loc.gov.