As I mentioned in my previous posting, you can collect any subject or author that interests you. There are no certified collecting areas and no "authorized" formats. You can decide to collect your favorite books in paperback or hardcover editions. They can be any edition or first editions. They can be signed copies or limited editions. Having said that, let me clarify the difference between a collector and a Collector. The Collector with a capital "C" is discriminating when it comes to format, edition, completeness, and condition. They want the first printing of the first edition; They want the hardcover edition if there was one; they want everything that came with the book when it was originally published i.e. dust jacket, all color plates, all maps; and they want to item in as close to its original condition as possible.
The collector with a small "c" is not generally concerned about the above criteria. They are primarily interested in the text and may or may not want keep a book once they have read it. They are not necessarily interested in building a library of their favorite books or reference materials, so for them the idea of collecting is an anathema.
For an in-depth history of book collecting and stories of some of our major collectors, Nicholas Basbane's "A Gentle Madness" is a must read and collectible.
But for the purpose of my discussions on book collecting, I am concerned with the Collector and the fundamentals that are involved in building a collection. I have a few "rules of the collecting" road that I believe are important for any fledgling book collector. And in my next post I will address the first one: COLLECT WHAT YOU LIKE.
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