Hello, I'm David Headley. Bookseller, literary agent, and proud book collector. So, you want to start book collecting? I'd say that was a good decision! The key is to start simple and stay sane…
How To Start Book Collecting
First, set a budget and a focus; don't be like me, who just went and bought everything I could get my hands on. Trust me, it's easy to go broke buying every pretty hardcover you see. Pick a genre or authors you love and begin there. Have a game plan and a realistic budget so you don't overspend on day one. Whatever you are into, whether it is general fiction, fantasy, crime, thriller, award-winners, or 19th-century poetry, whatever lights you up, starting with what you enjoy will make your collection meaningful (and you won't end up with a shelf full of books you secretly hate).
Next, immerse yourself in the world of books. Visit libraries or museums with interesting, rare book collections, attend local antiquarian book fairs, and make friends with bookstore owners — some of us are friendly! Seriously, collectors are a welcoming bunch (we love to geek out about books). Listen to podcasts that provide valuable insights into which books are worth buying – Confessions of a Book Collector is a good one. Wink wink! Attend author signings and chat with other collectors; you'll pick up great tips and maybe a juicy collecting story or two.
Also, know where the treasures are hidden. Besides your local used bookstores, there are online marketplaces for rare books and reputable book dealers, such as Goldsboro Books, who don't charge you a small mortgage. Don't forget auctions. Sometimes, a family home hides a gem. This week in The Guardian, I read about a first edition of The Hobbit which was found in a house in England and sold for £43,000 at auction. You never know what's hiding on old bookshelves! The bottom line: start small, follow your passion, know the details, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
The History of Book Collecting
Let's take a quick trip through the history of book collecting. Spoiler: People have been hoarding books since there were books! Even way back in ancient times, book lovers existed. Socrates once poked fun at a rich young man for collecting a ton of scrolls to show off, and in the 1st century AD, the philosopher Seneca complained about folks buying more books than they could ever read. Humblebragging about your library is a timeless tradition! I might also have been accused of it!*
For a long time, though, books were scarce and pricey (hand-copied by monks by candlelight – not cheap!). Then Gutenberg invented the printing press around 1450, and boom – more books for everyone. Printed books became affordable enough that not just kings and bishops could collect them. Regularly educated people started personal libraries. The printing press enabled middle-class book lovers to compete for the same titles, and book collecting as a hobby took off. Think of it as the original viral trend – 15th-century style.
By the 19th century, book collecting had turned into a full-on obsession among the wealthy. The English even coined the term "bibliomania" to describe the intense passion for book collecting. Picture Victorian gentlemen frantically bidding at auctions for rare first editions and fancy bindings. One writer, Thomas Dibdin, joked that you could diagnose a book collector by their pursuit of "First editions, uncut pages, special bindings…copies on vellum", all the fine details true book nerds drool over. Collecting went from a scholarly pursuit to something of a competitive sport.
And here we are today: thanks to that long history, we have public libraries and awesome collections preserved in museums. Modern book collecting isn't just for the super-rich aristocrats anymore; it's for anyone with a love of books and a bit of determination. We stand on the shoulders of centuries of collectors (some of us rational, some of us totally bonkers). So the next time you add a book to your shelf, give a little nod to the bibliophiles of yore who made book collecting the passionate hobby it is now.
How to Choose Books for Your Collection
Alright, so you've seen two books: one's a later printing of a classic, the other is a shiny first edition of a debut novel by an author who might be the next big thing. How do you choose? Here are some tips.
First Editions
First editions are the crown jewels for many collectors, especially the first printing of a first edition. Why? It's the closest to the book's original moment in history. Collectors go crazy for them, so identifying authentic first editions is the skill. That usually means checking details like the printing history page for that magic number line or the words "First Edition." If it's a first edition and a first printing, you've hit the jackpot. For example, the 1997 first printing of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (a debut novel, by the way) had only 500 copies printed – just 500! – and 300 of those went to libraries. No wonder it's a holy grail; one of the first editions of Potter's sold for $88,000 in 2023. So yes, first editions, especially of popular books or authors, are a smart target.
Debut Novels
Now, debut novels are like rookie cards for authors. They can be risky or rewarding. A debut might not be worth much… until the author becomes the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. Publishers are printing fewer copies of a debut because retailers are being more cautious, which can make it rare if the book achieves that word-of-mouth success. If you have an eye for talent, collecting debuts can be both fun and maybe a good investment. Plus, you get bragging rights: "I read it before it was the huge bestseller that it has become!"
Signed Books
And let's talk signed books. A signature turns an ordinary book into something special. For me, knowing the author touched that book and has personalised it by signing it, makes it more special. For collectors, an author's signature usually adds significant value, especially if the author is a big deal. A book signed by Stephen King? Ka-ching, that's collectable. When collecting signed copies, ensure the signature is authentic (ideally not personalised to someone else unless they are or were famous). Pro tip: If you meet an author, don't be shy, ask them to sign your copy. It may become the most treasured book on your shelf.
Focus on first editions whenever possible, keep an eye on promising debuts, books that are consistently being reviewed positively, and source signed copies.
Make it personal
But most importantly, collect the books that you love to read. Your collection should be personal to you, not just a checklist of "valuable" books.
Some people’s collections are based on a specific author they love, a specific genre or even a specific period in time. Combine passion with a bit of strategy, and you'll build a collection that's both meaningful and (bonus!) impressively collectable.
So, you are already on the right path because you buy from Goldsboro Books, and you already know that the books sold are first editions, first printings. And you also know that all the books are signed either in our bookshops or our distribution centre.
