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What is a first edition book and how do you determine its value? The book market is a free market in which each dealer is at liberty to price a book as he personally values it in relation to his own knowledge of scarcity and demand and basic value. From this, it should be obvious that shopping around may sometimes be advisable. In general, however, the international rare book trade is a vast, loose network of independent dealers in which there is, with certain limits, a general unanimity of opinion concerning the values of books. By and large it is condition that determines the price asked for a scarce or rare book. How does one tell a first edition? This is the question asked most frequently, and it is one of the more difficult questions to answer. There is, in fact, no single statement that will serve as an adequate answer. In general, it can be said that if the date on the title page of a book agrees with the date on the verso, or back, of the title page, the book may be assumed to be a first edition, much more complicated than that this is one of the reasons why it is neccessary to include in many of the entries herein the bibliographical points of identification. There is unfortunately no unanimity of method among either English or American publishers of identifying their first editions. I must say that aside from the rule of thumb about title page and copyright page agreement, every book must be considered as an individual problem. Unless the book itself is somehow identifiable as a first edition, it may be necessary to consult author bibliographies (and other library or bookseller resources, including catalogues) for exact information.Terms for Describing Condition from AB Bookman's As New is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. There can be no defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc., and the dust jacket (if it was issued with one) must be perfect without any tears. Fine approaches the condition of As New, but without being crisp. For the use of the term Fine there must also be no defects, etc., and if the jacket has a small tear, or other defect, or looks worn, those should be noted. Very Good can describe a used book that does show some small signs of wear - but no tears - on either binding or paper. Any defects must be noted. Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. Fair is a worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title, etc. Binding, jacket (if any), etc., may also be worn. All defects must be noted. Poor describes a book that is sufficiently worn that its only merit is as a Reading Copy because it does have the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates should still be noted. This copy may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc. Ex-library copies must always be noted as such no matter what the condition of the book. Book Club editions must always be noted as such no matter what the condition of the book. Binding Copy describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent. List © 1997 by AB Bookman's Publications, Inc. Used by permission. Our thanks to AB Bookman's.
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