Stealing Books-A Bookscout's Guide To Book Collecting

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Sections
  Introduction
  Chapter 1
  Chapter 2
  Chapter 3
  Chapter 4
  Chapter 5
  Chapter 6
  Chapter 7
  Chapter 8
  Appendix 1
  Appendix 2
  Appendix 3
  Appendix 4

Chapter 2 - Where To Find The Books (continued)

Some used bookstores have bargain rooms or bargain barns or the like. I love these places. If you spend some time searching, you can many times find some real deals. You might find a lot of older books, or really interesting books. Maybe the books aren't in the greatest shape. Or maybe the seller decided these books didn't appear to be worthwhile to look up or list. But you can find some really interesting books in these places and you never know. You might find that one book that you were looking for and get a really good bargain on it. You may find that book that you wanted, but didn't know it. Sometimes you might find really old books like books from the eighteen hundreds, that might not be in the greatest condition. But a lot of those books from that period are not going to be found in great shape. Is it collectible to you? It may not be collectible to a high end collector, but some of us can't afford spend $400 on a book. But if you can find a copy of that same book thats maybe not in the greatest condition, but you find it for $3, then you can add it to your collection. You can always upgrade later. It's better to go ahead and get it now, and use it as a place holder. You can still read the book, put it up on your shelf. Who knows, maybe later you might find a better copy, and then you can sell the worn, beat up copy for more than the $3 you spent for it. Don't let people tell you what to collect or what not to collect. It's your collection. If you want to collect all of the books by Pat COnroy, then go for it. If you want to collect first editions of all of Pat Conroy's books, then go ahead, though it will be expespesive. Maybe you can't afford a first edition of the Water Is Wide. If you can find a nice book club edition of the book which is almost identical to the first edition, then buy it, and put it up on your shelf. If later on you find a nice first edition for a price you can afford, then get it, and sell the book club copy, or donate it, or give it away. You decide what books interest you. Maybe you want to collect by author. Maybe you want to collect by subject such as books on quilting, or books on martial arts, or maybe baseball related fiction. Do you want to collect all of the books ever written by left handed golfers named Jack? It's up to you to decide. The possiblity of books to collect is limitless. Collect what you like to read, books that you know. You may find a book that you know is worth a lot more money than what it is priced at, so you buy it with plans to resell it. There have been books that I have bought and planned to sell, but once I actually read the book decided to keep them, and became an avid collector of the author. This is how I came to collect Pat Conroy. After finding The Great Santini at garage sale for 50 cents. I bought the book and planned to sell it for a profit. The book description sounded interesting, so I got a copy of the book on tape at the local libary, and listened to it. I loved the book, and became a hardcore collector of Pat Conroy first editions. The same thing happened when I found a copy of Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen in a used book store for $30. I knew the book was worth worth about $300 at the time. After listening to the book on tape from the library, I became a collector of Carl Hiaasen books. Many other books I began collecting because I listened to a book on taope, and like the book, so then when I came accross a copy of them while bookscouting, I would buy it, and add it to my collection. At one garage sale I bought a book club copy of Booked To Die by John Dunning. I read the book, and loved it. I later bought a signed first edition of this book. I recommend the book very highly if not for the story, then for more information on bookscouting.

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