If you would like clarification on any term in a particular sellers description, please contact the bookseller directly for further information. Rare books are a notable investment, particularly for those who appreciate the significance of written language. Palmer schools coursework is designed for students intending to pursue careers in research libraries, cultural institutions and the book trade. Whether you plan on collecting rare books, or if you hope to sell your rare books, its important to research the book s value first. Rare book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Nov 09, 2018 if you dont believe this just type in the search words, rare victorian and there are 9,748 results. We have thousands of rare and antique treasures brought to you by our network of trusted sellers from all around the world. Most of the book is objectively descriptive, be the focus spiritual or scientific.
Descriptive cataloging of rare materials rbms rare. Definition of rare adjective in oxford advanced learners dictionary. Our glossary was designed to help visitors to our website understand unfamiliar book related terms. Descriptive bibliography california rare book school. The demand for a book is created by a combination of factors, often including status as a first edition, signed book, or written by a. An adjective describing a flexible binding in suede or imitation leather such as that used on the early titles of. How to read rare book condition descriptions as provided by professional booksellers. First editions and signed copies are the two cornerstones of the rare book business. Form terms for archival and manuscript control ftamc genre terms.
Glossary of book collecting terms book collecting tips. If you anticipate the need to produce bibliographical descriptions of your own, including accurate collational formulas, you may find g10 more suited to your needs. This may seem obvious but is important to keep in mind, for the majority of book collectors collect authors or subjects that they are currently reading or have read and enjoyed. However, in order to utilize the hyperlinks to the marc 21 format for bibliographic data and the dcrmb rules from within the examples, a subscription to catalogers. A book in poor condition will be worth far less than the same book in fine condition. Use the search box above to find fond treasures from your childhood or that one book that has escaped your collection thus far. The alphabetical list contains unapproved terms and references. Your description should be at least 150200 words long. However there might be some tears or spine wear or some other defectdamage that is not visible in the pictures. The mission of the abaa is to promote ethical standards and professionalism in the antiquarian book trade, to encourage the collecting and preservation of rare and antiquarian books and related materials, to support. Students in all three courses enjoy intensive contact with rare book schools renowned study collections of books, bindings, and related artifacts. Physical description in book cataloging the collation.
A selection of guided tours will run throughout the fair. Publishers and booksellers have built a specialized vocabulary over the years to consistently describe to perspective customers what to expect to see when the book is delivered. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers. Good g a book, or dust jacket in average used and worn condition complete with all its parts. Rare book cataloging resources rare book and manuscript. To view a term record, click on its first letter from the list below. The book collectors magazine resource for book collecting, first editions, rare, antiquarian books. This abbreviated glossary covers only the most commonly encountered terms.
Classical, descriptive paleontology is very good at dealing with this sort of pattern. A book can also be temporarily rare because there is a shortage of available copies, or because there is an inadequate supply of copies in the market. Describe your book in simple, straightforward, and consumerfriendly terms. It serves a descriptive and classificatory purpose only. This book is primarily a descriptive work, seeking to provide detail about a specific historical missionary activity. The course will introduce students to the principles and concepts of descriptive bibliography and develop their ability to accurately understand and describe the format, collation, pagination, and other aspects of the physical book.
If you have one of these rare books sitting on a shelf, get ready to cash in. The library holds the special collections of columbia university, as well as the columbia university archives. Association copy a book once belonging to the author, or signed or annotated by the author to someone closely associated with the author of the book or the book itself in some way. If you have a very old book, you might be hoping you can sell it and make some money. Please read the following and bring a copy with you to class. A book is a number of pieces of paper, usually with words printed on them, which are. Antiquarian bookseller a term, in todays usage, that describes a bookseller whose stock in trade is primarily old, rare, andor collectible books.
There is a wide range of topics represented and the materials were published in many different countries. In addition to her folger work, erin teaches the history of printed book illustration in the west at rare book school, and is chief editor of descriptive cataloging of rare materials graphics. A more complete guide to book sizes, book conditions and binding terms can be found through the aforementioned links. A visit to the shadowy world of rare book theft literary hub. Used and rare books have a long, venerable history of being bought and sold at distance. Learn the basics of collecting rare books, from common descriptive terms used by booksellers to tips for starting your collection. I didnt find the plot particularly gripping, but the level of period detail in the books descriptive passages was excellent. Books are made rare when there is a high demand from buyers but few known copies in existence. After a fouryear tour of duty in senior management, she happily returned to working handson with the collection in 2018. Rare book and special collections long island university.
Refers to old, rare, andor scarce, and usually to books published before. Maybe youve seen shows like pawn stars or american pickers, where people cash in their antiques for piles of money. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books. A trade association in the british isles for dealers in antiquarian and rare books. The bulk of the volume consists of descriptive and interpretive catalogue entries for each mask. Rose manuscript, archives, and rare book library, formerly the special collections department, of emory university acquires, preserves, and makes available collections of rare and unique materials including manuscripts, organizational records, printed material,books, photographs, audiovisual materials, and university records to support research.
We specialize in making it easier for you to get the books you need. If you dont believe this just type in the search words, rare victorian and there are 9,748 results. Abbreviations appear alphabetized at the beginning of each respective letter. The list also includes a few colloquial terms that are still in common use in british english, like tipsy or midge, but might be unfamiliar to englishspeakers from elsewhere in the world this list should include most of the uncommon or obscure terms used by tolkien in his work. The condition of a rare book and its dust jacket if applicable are the most important factors affecting its value and pricing. When describing our books we do not deliberately try to. Complete descriptions sell more books grading book. Abaa antiquarian booksellers association of america. The introductory text from the print edition is available.
Learn about terms used when discussing rare books in this free book collecting video from a longtime bookstore buyer. Details about a descriptive catalogue of the sanskrit manusripts vol 16 rare book india 1984. A dictionary of descriptive terminology don etheringtons dictionary of descriptive book terms. Genre and physical characteristic headings gmgpc moving image. This kind of book is valued primarily for the information in it. Find some of the common jargon booksellers and book collectors often use.
Examples to accompany descriptive cataloging of rare materials books is available for free, without a subscription, via catalogers desktop from the library of congress. The bibliographic standards committee is neutral regarding rda, neither encouraging nor discouraging agencies regarding implementation of rdaacceptable dcrm records the bibliographic standards committee is currently working on descriptive cataloging of rare materials rda edition dcrmr and an accompanying set of policy statements to. Descriptive cataloging of rare materials graphics alalc romanization tables transliteration schemes for nonroman scripts from the library of congress. A favorite term to describe defects that probably occur only on copies of the book the particular dealer often handles, such as lacks endpapers, as usual. A trade publication for the rare and antiquarian book industry that was published between 1948 and 1999. The international league of antiquarian booksellers resources including library of articles, glossary of terms in several languages. For the purpose of this list, genre is defined as a recognized category of works not their physical manifestations characterized by a particular form, purpose, or content.
Prior to the emergence of internet marketplaces such as biblio, ab bookmans was the primary marketplace by which dealers and collectors located and traded in antiquarian books. The terms soft cover, paperback, and wraps also refer to a paper binding. C library of congress cataloging distribution service, 3rd printing with corrections, 2011 isbn. Descriptive cataloging of rare materials rbms rare books. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions our main concern is to provide you with general concepts relative to commonly used book jargon. Booksellers are individuals and as such may have what they think is the best book description definitions. And of course, a book which nobody has ever thought of looking for is often as difficult to find, and thus is rare in practical terms. Descriptive cataloging of ancient, medieval, renaissance, and early modern manuscripts amremm descriptive cataloging of rare materials books examples to accompany descriptive cataloging of rare materials books via catalogers desktop. Can also refer to the outer indentation that is created by the.
Not all rare books are valuable, and you may be surprised to. The majority of materials in the rare book collection are in english but there are materials in other languages such as latin, french and spanish. A thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging. Students develop proficiency in rare book librarianship, the history of the book, rare book cataloging and descriptive bibliography, preservation, archival techniques, and exhibition planning. Her primary faculty affiliation is with the rare book school of the university of virginia. In this post, youll learn how to use power words like a kung fu master. This descriptive cataloging of rare books bibliographic. Ioba condition definitions independent online booksellers. Booksellers use these terms, as well as unique terms not included in this list, based on their own criteria. How to read rare book condition descriptions book collecting guide. This is the catchall, nondescriptive description that is typically applied. A catalogue of printed sanskrit works mysore rare antique book india 1944. Because of the nature of such libraries, it has a literaryhistorical bias.
Book formats the traditional terms in use for describing book formats, which are derived from early printing methodology and the size of early. According to the post, hundiashvili tried to sell the books at another rare bookshop but ran into the problem i mentioned before, about the insular book world and how all the dealers know which goods are hot. Looking for help understanding commonly used book collecting terminology, or abbreviations and references used in book sellers descriptions. The ioba book condition definitions standards codify these condition definitions so that ioba booksellers have a guideline for describing their books. Rare books especially old, rare books deserve and require special care. Abaa about rare books book glossary about antiquarian books. In fact, perhaps enjoyed is really not descriptive enough. Oxford companion to the book 2010 access to u of i users only covers the book throughout the world from ancient to modern times. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition. Its something different from the norm, shape shifters, but in a kind of parallel dimension, and with others magics being used too. If cared for properly, rare books can provide their owners with a beautiful collection that will continue to grow in value as time goes. Our glossary was designed to help visitors to our website understand unfamiliar bookrelated terms. Infography about book collecting a book collectors choice of the best books, articles, and online resources. A look into the dwindling world of rare books fortune.
Hopefully, our glossary will help you unravel some of the jargon used by book collectors and book sellers. A nontraditional book condition description that generally refers to a book in good or very good condition, although no standard exists for this term, and the word can be used to describe a wide variety of actual book conditions. Bindings a term generally used in the antiquarian book world to mean fine bindings, of which there are numerous styles. Antiquarian and rare book glossary of terms you should. Stymied and under pursuit, hundiashvili allegedly mailed the books back to prph, the scene of the crime. This page lists archaic or unusual words used in tolkiens works. Antiquarian, rare and fine books at ash rare books.
Sprinkle in a few, and you can transform dull, lifeless words into persuasive words that compel readers to take action. Abaa glossary of book terms antiquarian booksellers. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular book s condition. Learn the basics of collecting rare books, from common descriptive terms used by. Rare books for sale, buy antique books from alibris. Fine f a book that has no defects in book or jacket, but not as crisp as it was when new.
We all know that the first books printed in 15th century europe are rare, and many later books are rare because they were printed in a special place or at a special timefor instance, books printed in the confederate states during the american civil war, the first book printed in antarctica, or the first book printed on a submarine. Grading guidelines used to properly describe condition of books. Descriptive cataloging of rare materials serials dcrm. Alphabetical list rare books and manuscripts section. Mar 29, 2019 how to research the value of rare books. Etf and mutual fund data provided by morningstar, inc.
This thesaurus attempts to standardize terms used to designate intellectual genres of textual materials in general rare book libraries. A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. Antiquarian and rare book glossary of terms you should know. Mass market paperback is the format in which most popular fiction is published. If you are going to list something as rare, first do a. The range of the librarys holdings spans more than 4,000 years, from cylinder seals created in mesopotamia to contemporary artists books. Ninethousandsevenhundredfortyeight rare items to choose from. Rare books for beginners national library of scotland. Previously a subscription service at, stanford libraries has brought the materials into catalog and makes this rich resource publicly available. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. This 2007 publication is a revision of descriptive cataloging of rare books, 1991, itself a revision of bibliographic description of rare books, 1981t. Some basic descriptive terms are used by booksellers to communicate book condition.
Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. Apr 16, 2008 ebay rare book descriptions will likely include these terms. A thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloguing descriptive terms for graphic materials. In our time is considered one of the rare books for book collectors around the. Directory of web resources for the rare book cataloger. This is a collection of over 100 rare book catalogs and bibliographies with additional resources for scholars, collectors, and booksellers.
When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. May 17, 2016 after a fouryear tour of duty in senior management, she happily returned to working handson with the collection in 2018. Ebay rare book descriptions will likely include these terms. Alibris is one of the premier rare and outofprint book sites on the internet. Apr 20, 2020 power words are like a cheat code for boosting conversion rates. The complete list of terms a bookseller might use is considerable. The better your book description, the better your chances for gaining visibility and remaining visible. Audio book a cassette, lp, cd, audio file or other recording of a voice actor reading the text of a book. Some of the terminology used in book collecting can be arcane, indeed. The night circus by erin morgenstern, the catcher in the rye by j.