Guest Post: How to Find Rare Books

Today’s guest post is targeted at the hunter-gatherer in all of us obsessive book collectors.  Enjoy!

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How to Find Rare Books

For lovers of old books, finding surviving copies from simpler times can be a daunting task. As publishers move beyond paperbacks and hardcovers in favor of the digital medium, ancient texts are quickly fading into obscurity. Fortunately, however, there are a number of sources in which such treasures can still be found:

• Garage Sales
• Libraries
• Flea Markets
• Universities
• Book Drives

Garage Sales

Driveways filled with used items for sale are good opportunities to discover antiquarian literature. Although copies may be severely damaged or worn, they are usually sold for a significant discount. Moreover, shelving and coffee tables for a study room could be purchased for a bargain price.

Libraries

Public centers of research are excellent sources for old texts and should not be overlooked. As their stocks are updated, many libraries will sell their replaced wares for generous prices. More importantly, most books sold by these institutions require are often unused and, therefore, undamaged.

Flea Markets

If one looks beyond the hustle and bustle, a few literary gems can be seen trading hands in outdoor store stalls. As businessmen, local merchants tend to hold only the most unique items due to their perceived profitability. This means that, while the prices may be higher than other sources, most books available for sale will likely be old and unusual.

Universities

Many professors and students are willing to exchange books that have outlived their usefulness in academic settings. From History to Art, many collectible texts sit in offices and backpacks just waiting to be purchased by discriminating eyes. Should one be visiting a local college or university, it’s usually a idea to inspect bulletin boards for textbook advertisements and giveaways.

Book Drives

Some charity groups establish book drives to provide impoverished communities with educational materials. Occasionally, however, they receive copies that are either outdated or extremely worn, yet desirable for collectors. Thus, it often helps to ask donation managers if they have historical publications they would like to sell. In return for a modest sum of money to fund their programs, most will part with just about any literary relic.

Conclusion

In spite of modern publishing, there remain avenues in which rare books continue to be overlooked and unwanted. To explore them, all it takes is the willingness to move beyond the trodden paths of popular stores and shopping malls. Afterwards, anyone can enjoy printed masterpieces from the long forgotten past.

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Henry Davis is a writer at privatestudentloan.org.