In the ancient world, papyri and scrolls (the precursors of the book in codex form) were collected by both institutions and private individuals. In surviving accounts there are references to bibliophile book collectors in that era. See more

As with other collectibles, the value of a book ultimately depends on its physical condition. Years of handling, moving, and storage take their … See more

Antiquarian book collecting may be roughly defined as an interest in books printed prior to 1900 and can encompass interest in 19th, 18th, 17th, 16th, and 15th-century books. Antiquarian book collectors are not exclusively interested in first editions and … See more

Virtual book collecting can be described as collecting books in a digital format (virtually) on a computer or other electronic device. A bibliophile may acquire See more

Book prices generally depend on the demand for a given book, the number of copies available for purchase, and the condition of a given … See more

New books are readily available from bookstores and online.
Out-of-print, used, antiquarian, rare and collectible books are available in specialty bookstores both in … See more

The history of book collecting in China dates back over two millennia. An important effort to collect books in China was made during the early Han dynasty by the government, as many important books were burned during the Qin dynasty. From then on, book … See more