What do you call a person who collects books?

The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and a person who collects books is often called a bibliophile but can also be known as an bibliolater, meaning being overly devoted to books, or a bookman which is another term for a person who has a love of books.

Is book collecting worth it?

While your book collection need not have market value to have worth to you and to others (such as researchers), a book collection often can be a monetary investment. And even if the collection does not have significant market value, it can nonetheless be an essential intellectual investment.

Is book collecting a hobby?

“Book-collecting is not exclusively a hobby for rich and leisured people. It is less a matter of money than of method. The point is that the greatest pleasure for the collector is in the chase, and if you can afford to buy an occasional new book, you can also afford to buy an occasional old book.

What are some characteristics of a book collector?

Exercising knowledge, taste, and critical judgment, the book collector forms a special kind of library, intended not only for reference, current reading, or entertainment but also for comprehensiveness and quality within the areas it covers.

What are rare book collectors called?

Antiquarian, like antique, suggests something both old and collectible; that is, a book one would want to preserve both for its age alone and also for its intrinsic interest as an object. The term “antiquarian” encompasses the ordinary second-hand book.

Do books lose value over time?

“Books tend not to lose value over the long haul,” he says. “It’s not a bad place to put money with a reasonable expectation that it will grow. In the next seven years the book may appreciate beyond what you paid for it to a point where a dealer might pay you $3,500 because now he can get $7,000 for it.”

How do I get antiquarian books?

Rare Books 101: How to Begin Collecting Rare Books

1. Collect what excites you. Does this seem obvious?
2. Focus.
3. Explore and determine your boundaries.
4. Collect the best copies you can afford.
5. Find an expert you trust and consult him or her regularly.

How old does a book have to be to be antiquarian?

Many serious and experienced antiquarian book collectors are focused on tracking down works from the 16th century and earlier. As most antique collectors and aficionados are aware, items are typically considered to be “antiques” if they are aged 100 years or older.