Children's books comprise the largest genre in my collection (~3,000 books), many of which are library discards. Most hardcover copies of children's books from the 1930s-1990s were sold to schools and libraries, so it's often very difficult find copies that aren't ex-library. Like you, I was motivated to put together a collection of the books I enjoyed as a kid, particularly when I discovered my local public library removing them from their own collection. Cheers!

What a great idea.

How do you get the libraries stuff off it without damaging the books?

@@dkibs2473 I've often wondered this as well! Perhaps you just can't. I don't really know. ;-)

​@@thelibraryladderhi, I hope your happy and well and living your best life 😊 I have a question if you don't mind, how do you find out anything about books that you can't find anything about them ?? I also collect books, I have to say im very jealous of your libary, I also have a libary but only have about 3000 books but its still officially a libary as i have over 1000 books, that also means my kindle is also its own library 🤣. I actually many multiple copies of the same book because I have crazy ocd book issues, if I love a book I must have it in all formats hardback, paperback, graphic novel, illustrated edition, collectors edition, anniversary edition, pretty new covers, box sets and when possible signed first edition, im sure you get the picture . If im buying new I always buy from amazon as they seem to get all the first editions so all my harry potter books are first edition, all 80 + of them , please refere to my crazy ocd book issues 🙈. But I have found that every book I've got off amazon has been first edition so its worked so far 😊The last book I got was a 1982 first edition copy of war horse, I got very lucky and only paid £50 but that because its a ex libary book, i know ex libary books bring down the value but I just wanted it as its one of my favourite covers and I wanted one to go with my other 6 signed first editions of the same book lol . I always advise check charity shops and always check the first 3 pages as the charity rarely check to see if they are signed. I got 2 signed first editions for £2 for both a couple weeks ago.ive also picked up many other signed first editions and valuable vintage books this way. Anyway back to my question , sorry i got distracted. I have a beautiful children's book called childhood in perfect condition it has a red cover and just the words childhood on the front in gold. When I say beautiful condition, i mean, as in it looks brand new even though its from 1800 !! But I can't find anything about it anywhere and I've been searching for years, I've asked on collectors sites and they can't help either , so I was wondering if you had any ideas 🤔 and also I will also point out harry potter are the only books where I have over 80 copies, I usually only have 4-6 copies if I have multiple copies of the same book, so yes im crazy but not totally crazy, for exi have 6 copies if grimm fairy tales my oldest copies are 1903 and 1906, 6 copies of war horse all signed first edition, 3 copies of watership down 1 signed first edition and a collectors edition, so it's not quite as bad as it could be, I collect what I love, so all my books I have read or plan to read, I try get signed copies of my favourite ones, I must have over 200 signed first editions, I will buy special edition when I can too, I have a collectors edition if beedle and bard that I waited 10 to find that, I now have that book in every UK and American editions and those are counted among the collection of harry potter books lol now on search for the replica copy of the monster book of monsters which will probably take me another 10 years lol, i also live collecting vintage childrens books just because they are so pretty. I don't buy books because of their value as I'll never sell them, my kids will have a nest egg when they do sell them after I die so there is that I suppose. 🤔 Ok I must stop waffling on m, I tend to get carried away when talking books 📚 anyway take care and if you have any ideas where I can find out more about my childhood book or where I can find out more please let me know 😊

Great story! I can empathize somewhat. I'm a lot more focused in my collecting now than I was when I first started decades ago. Thanks for sharing!

What was the sci-fi book you loved so much?

@@Cakewalkingbaby Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis. The old paperback I found had THE coolest cover art and that title just caught me. Embarrassingly, it was the first C.S. Lewis title I ever read. I liked it so much I tracked down a set of the Chronicles of Narnia books and read them all as well. But that first sci fi paperback find opened a gateway that introduced me to authors like Stapledon, Niven, Clarke, Haldeman, Bradbury, Harrison, Burroughs, and soooooo many more.

@@captaingrumbletummies869 Thank you so very much! I will look into that book. I haven't read a lot of science fiction but I definitely like the genre.

That thought has crossed my mind on many occasions.

No, when they think they are detritus they go direct to the dumpster. Thatthey sold them at least ponts that they thought someone can still enjoy them.

That's the case with most things. You really don't own anything. It's all borrowed and temporary in the end even if you possess something for decades. See this all the time at estate sales.

@@nap871 That is true of course, but the collecting of things does give life a certain meaning as a goal. The problem I have is when I complete a goal, I have ennui.

Its not sad. Because now they go to a new loving home. Not everyone has an appreciation of books and the fact that they took them somewhere where somebody can find them and enjoy them is a good thing… Sad would be if the family threw them in the trash and they went to a landfill.

Thanks, Murph! It's been a labor of love for decades.

Alas, I built a house to store my books, but now the house is full. :D

How many books do you have to have in order to have a "library" I wonder?

@@Ganondorfdude11 I think it's one of those "it's not the size that counts it's how you use it" kind of things.

@@thelibraryladder The limits to growth in any ecosystem can not be overlooked even when it comes to book collecting!

Thanks for the enthusiastic vote of support! It's always wonderful to encounter people who love and enjoy books as passionately as I do. Your suggestion about offering classes is an intriguing one that I hadn't really considered before. I'll give it some thought. Thanks again and welcome aboard!

That's great! It sounds like you've already got a good handle on how to build a collection on a budget (and have it pay for itself). What's the website with the barter/scrip system? I'm not familiar with it. Thanks!

​@the library ladder paperbackswap, you pay to ship to them and they pay to ship to you when you order something. Media mail usps rates aren't bad. You can also make a "wish list" so that if the books show up on the site depending on your place in line it will alert you and hold it for 2 days until you say you want it or to pass on it.

@@Zarred Thanks for the info!

Thanks! I agree that the cover art on a lot of vintage MMPBs is terrific and very collectible, even when the books themselves might be only mediocre. I'm also partial to the cover art on a lot of older pulp magazines. I've framed some of my favorite old magazine issues, and they hang on my walls.

It's never too late to start, especially if you're focused on collecting books you truly enjoy. The other key tip is to have patience and wait for the right books in the right condition and at the right price. Even if your collection stays small and occupies only a single shelf, it'll be an awesome shelf that you can feel happy about. Cheers!

In another life, I would have loved being a book scout for a rare book dealer. The hunt for the books is part of the fun. I'd probably struggle as a professional book seller, though, because I'd grow too attached to my inventory. :D

I frequently get lost there. :D

I'm happy to be of service, Chas! Let me know via the Discord servers we're both on if I can provide any help.

@@thelibraryladder I definitely will. Thank you.

Thanks, Jonathan! I suspect most BookTube channels don't need encouragement from me to collect more books. Maybe, though, it'll help collectors find more of what they most want, and at better prices.

Thanks! I'm so glad you found it helpful.

Thanks, Michael! I imagine Roger already knew these tips, given his [centuries? millennia?] of experience. Stately Vaughan Manor is no slacker when it comes to book collecting (although I was saddened by the understandable pivot to ebooks you announced a few months ago). :)

Thank you! I'm so glad you found it helpful.

Thank you so much!

Thanks! That's nice to know, as my experience with comic books is limited.

Thank you for your very kind words! Collecting books has been a passion of mine for decades. I designed the library myself and had a woodworker build all the cabinetry several years ago. It's a 30'x15' room full of bookcases and books (and a 12' ladder, which can get a little scary when retrieving books from the upper shelves). It's also an acoustical nightmare when I film my videos, because of all the hard, flat, reflective surfaces. Cheers!

@@thelibraryladder Fortunately, you have an ASMR-like voice which no doubt lessens the reverberations! I hope you won't mind if I indulge a personal fantasy of mine, which is to own such a magnificent library with the classic ladder, vicariously through you! Double cheers.

Thanks, Wiley! I hope my advice in this video doesn''t put a dent in your bookselling endeavors. There's a wide spectrum of sellers between the casual, closet-cleaning variety and the high-end specialists. I so glad you're enjoying Moorcock. All the best!

No worries, I was planning on giving similar advice to my subscribers someday, after their interest in books starts coming around. I'm so lucky to live less than a mile from one of the best bookstores (especially price wise).

@@thelibraryladder Do you collect the 'NYRB Classics'? I find them every now and then (about one every week or two), and I like the way they look and feel so I find them fun to collect.

The NYRB Classics is a great series, particularly for lesser-known older titles. I have several NYRB books, but I don't actively collect them.

Thanks! I plan to do a series of tours of different parts of my collection. 10,000 books is just too much to fit into a single video. The first tour was last September, when I focused on some of my classic children's books. I hope to showcase another set of bookshelves in the next couple of months. For brief samples from different genres in my collection, I have some short overview videos in my playlists for each genre.

@@thelibraryladder love it. Thanks! I do remember the children's book vid.

That's a great find! Thriftbooks can be a wonderful source of used books, and its notification feature is useful for setting up long-term searches for specific titles. I've had mixed results from it in terms of the accuracy of book descriptions and the condition in which books arrive. I've received a few ex-library books that weren't described as such, and its practice of shipping books in unpadded plastic bags often results in damage to the books' corners in transit (which is more of an issue for books purchased in Near Fine or Fine condition). Happy hunting!

@@thelibraryladder Thank you for those caveats, I will keep them in mind while continuing my browsing!

Thanks! That's the best part of book collecting -- curating the books you love. Classic children's books comprise the largest part of my collection, owing to my voracious reading habits as a kid, when I read almost anything I could get my hands on.

Thanks! Other than receiving a book on its release date, I don't see much value for readers/collectors in most preorders. Preorders are primarily for the benefit of the publisher and retailers such as Amazon by giving them advance information about the amount of demand for a title, so they can decide how many copies to print and what price to charge. The more preorders there are for a book, the more copies in total a publisher is likely to print, which will depress the book's potential to appreciate in value over time. The situation can be different for limited editions, particularly ones that have the number of copies capped up front (e.g., an edition of 500 signed and numbered copies). Preordering those books is often the best way to obtain a copy.

You're very welcome! I hope you find them helpful.

Thanks! You sound like someone who knows how to find value in book searches. Welcome aboard!

Thanks! I wish you the best of luck with your collecting and your channel. BookTube needs more coverage of vintage science fiction and crime stories.

Thanks, Josh! If I can be of any help in your collecting efforts, feel free to let me know via the Discord servers we're both on.

Thanks, I appreciate that!

Thanks, Whitney! I'm obsessive about treating my books with care (even my (paperback) reading copies of favorite books). I nearly had a conniption in graduate school when a housemate of mine discovered my collection of dozens of classic paperbacks in pristine condition. She proceeded to read them all and broke every single spine. I greatly prefer hardcover editions because they're far more durable than paperbacks, but I have a lot of paperbacks too, especially older ones where there wasn't a hardcover edition. As I mention in the video, for hardcover books, the first thing I always do is put a Brodart Just-a-Fold III archival dust jacket cover on it. Those covers are worth their weight in gold for their ability to prevent damage to books and their jackets. Books protected by those covers can withstand a surprising amount of abuse (which is why public libraries and schools use them).

Thanks! I'll give some thought about how best to provide more information about the topics you suggested. I too have many older Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Star Trek (TOS) books. About a third of my collection comprises vintage children's books, most of which are from the period 1900-1975. Depending on their age and condition your magazines might have some financial value. Early editions in particular are often sought by collectors.

Thanks! Are there particular topics you'd like me to explore?

Thanks, and great story! Before covid restrictions and precautions paused a lot of the events, I used to frequent book festivals and signings. They can be a lot of fun. I'm hopeful those events and signing opportunities will eventually return as they once were.

Thanks! That sounds like a fun approach to collecting books, and if it inspires you to become a polyglot, all the better. :)

@@thelibraryladder Thanks! Yeah, I know my way around plenty of languages already and this is a fun and fulfilling way for me to combine my passions for reading, languages, and traveling into one activity. It’s interesting to switch between trying to specifically get the US hardcover edition of one my favorite author’s books for my collection and getting the greatest book I can find in Croatia or in Oman, no matter the edition.

It's never too late. Best of luck to you!

Thanks! I'm very glad you enjoyed it.

You're welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful.

Thanks! I don't know if my advice is the best advice, but it has worked well for me over the years. I too prefer reading texts in their original form, the way the author intended them (warts and all).

That's awesome! I have several dog books by Albert Payson Terhune, Jack London, Sheila Burnford, Jim Kjelgaard and Jack O'Brien in my collection of classic children's books. My favorite as a kid was O'Brien's Silver Chief, Dog of the North.

@@thelibraryladder I have Silver Chief on order at the moment, and have a few from Kjelgaard. I have yet to get any from Terhune but they’re definitely on the list. There are so many and not enough time and money! I’ll just have to chip away at what I can.

I agree. Several of Powers' books are among my favorites. I plan to do an overview of his works in the coming year. Thanks for the suggestion!

Thank you for your very kind words, Nicole! Collecting vintage books for younger readers (YA and below) can pose some distinct challenges, one of which is that schools and libraries were the largest markets for those books when they were published. As a result, most hardcover copies available today are ex-library books, which tends to lower their price, but also reduces the condition of the books. Likewise, it's often difficult to find vintage children's books in very good or better condition because of the wear and tear young readers impose on them. A third constraint on the availability of mid-20th century books for young readers is that many of the copies originally sold to schools and libraries no longer exist. Libraries routinely discard older books to make room on their shelves for newer authors and titles, and over the years, many school and library copies have ended up recycled for paper pulp if they weren't sold. (Many mid-century titles were purged from library collections starting about 25 years ago when publishers began aggressively emphasizing and expanding the YA and children's book market.) Finally, many mid-to-higher-end professional sellers of used books don't offer children's books other than a small number of the best-known (and most valuable) titles. This can make it harder to find copies of special or favorite books in collectible condition that you're willing to pay extra for. One benefit, though, is that it also reduces competition for affordable vintage copies from other sources. In my experience, the best sources of affordable vintage children's books in collectible condition are eBay, estate sales (often on eBay), thrift stores (such as Goodwill), and public library book sales (which can include copies donated by patrons as well as the library's own discarded copies). In all four, it's possible to buy bulk lots of books relatively cheaply, although patience is often required for the right titles to appear in the right condition and at the right price. Many of my vintage children's books were acquired from eBay sellers who were cleaning out a bedroom or a closet or a basement because their kids were grown and had moved away, or because they were downsizing in anticipation of moving to a new home. Thus, if you find a book on eBay that appears to be a great bargain (especially an auction with a low starting bid), be sure to browse the seller's other auction listings to see what other bargains might be available. Some sellers will entertain bulk offers for multiple books and will combine shipping for multiple purchases. Amazon's used book marketplace and Addall.com also can be useful sites to search for specific titles, but it's harder to find significant bargains there. Depending on your definition of "classic" titles, I'd suggest the same sources for finding collectible copies of those books. Auction houses such as Heritage Auctions also can be useful for finding relative bargains in bulk (although not necessarily cheap). I hope this is helpful!

@@thelibraryladder Thank you, Bridger! This reply made my day as it is so informative. I really appreciate it. Your points all make sense as to why my passion is hard to come by in pristine condition. Years ago I stumbled across a company that would reprint covers. I didn't reach out to them because I wasn't sure about the ethics and legality. I would think they would need permission from the publisher, author and illustrator to reprint a cover. Thank you so much for the suggestions!

For dust jacket reprints, the first place to start is the publisher. Some publishers offer new jackets for older books, although typically not for most titles. You might have to contact their customer service center to find out about availability. Facsimile copies of jackets are generally legal as long as the design/artwork isn't still covered by copyright protection. Books and their jacket designs have separate copyrights, and for titles published before 1964 in the US, the copyrights would need to have been renewed at some point to still be in effect today. In many cases, those copyrights weren't renewed and have subsequently expired. And often the book's copyright would be renewed but not that of the jacket art. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy way to search to confirm what's still covered by copyright and what isn't. In my experience, Facsimile Dust Jackets LLC (dustjackets.com) is a reputable vendor that provides very high quality copies. I've purchased a few from them.

@@thelibraryladder Thank you, Bridger! I always learn so much on your channel. I didn't realize the jackets were under a separate copyright pre 1964! This is wonderful news! Thank you for taking the time to educate me on this. I will look into the website you suggested as well!

Thank you! I've recorded a few classic short stories for fun and uploaded them to an Audiobooks playlist here on my channel. I might do more in the future.

@@thelibraryladder You definitely should! ;-)

I agree completely. I prioritize hardcover books whenever possible because of their scarcity and durability.

Thanks! Hardcover first editions are typically (but not always) more collectible than later editions or paperbacks. Scarcity and condition are two key drivers of collectibility. Publishers tend to keep first edition print runs relatively small in order to reduce their risk of unsold inventory. Later editions tend to have larger print runs because the book has proven to be popular. It’s also harder to find first editions in very good (or better) condition because they’re older and have had more opportunities to be read and abused). Some books that were first (or only) published as paperbacks can be very collectible as well. The cover art for paperback editions often plays a significant role in their collectibility. Please note, though, that I’m primarily referring to financial value in this response. A book doesn’t have to be financially valuable to be collectible if it has other meaning or significance to the collector. I hope that’s helpful.

That's quite a find! Especially if it still had its dust jacket. I always get a thrill when I stumble across something like that.

You're very welcome!

Thanks! High octane or decaf? :D

I have difficulty resisting the lure of 100 year old books in any genre. Thrift shops can be a treasure trove.

@@thelibraryladder its one of the coolest things i have started to collect and i am addicted and wont be stopping

I agree, and it's a major reason I've learned to avoid buying from some of the major bulk resellers on eBay and on Amazon's Used Book Marketplace. Sometimes ex-library books are almost unavoidable because publishers often distributed early hardcover editions of titles heavily to schools and public libraries (this is particularly true for children's books from the 1930s-1970s), making non-library hardcover copies very difficult to obtain. Occasionally, I'll run across an older ex-library book that never circulated, leaving it in pristine condition with only an ink stamp or two on the end papers indicating it was ever owned by a library. Those are rare exceptions, though. Another problem with buying ex-library books is that sometimes they're stolen goods. Theft of scarce hardcover first editions and limited editions from schools and libraries has become a problem in recent years as collectors seek copies of the early books written by authors who have gone on to become very popular. Those early books often had small print runs, and many of those copies were acquired by libraries. I've even seen libraries foolishly purchase expensive signed & numbered limited editions from specialty presses such as Subterranean Press. New, those limited editions retailed for as much as $275, and on the used market they can fetch several times that amount, because their print runs were very small (often fewer than 500 copies). Little wonder that those specialty editions have quickly disappeared from library shelves and shown up on eBay as alleged "discards."

Sounds great! I'm planning a series of videos in the coming months focused on the roots of both genres that you might find interesting.

That thought has crossed my mind on many occasions. I don't relish the idea of moving. Thanks!

Thanks! And if you ever change your mind, I hope these tips are useful. :)

Thanks for your question! I'm generally in favor of any edition that is well-made, is reasonably priced and is intended to be read, whether issued by a mainstream publisher or a specialty press. Unfortunately, not all limited or special editions published these days seem to fit all three criteria. Different people collect books for different reasons. Someone who approaches collecting as an investment (in the hope of future appreciation in resale value) likely will have opinions that differ somewhat from those of a person who prioritizes the aesthetics of a book's appearance or those of a completist who wants multiple editions of their favorite books. I own quite a few editions from a variety of specialty presses, but I prioritize ones that bring older, out-of-print titles back into print or that represent the first hardcover edition of a title. As an example, a few years ago Subterranean Press issued a series of hardcover volumes collecting Jack Vance's early short fiction, much of which was readily available only in old paperbacks and pulp magazines. Personally, I'm a little skeptical of editions that seem like they're designed primarily to be display pieces (room decoration) and not necessarily to be read. That applies to Easton Press and extremely high-end specialty presses such as Centipede Press (which often charge $500-1000 for a new book). They seem more like display pieces and trophies rather than books. And from an investment perspective, I'm doubtful of their potential to appreciate significantly in value. I'm also skeptical of the trend in recent years of popular authors double-dipping by releasing high-priced specialty editions of recent titles while their original trade hardcover editions are still in print (inducing collectors to buy yet another copy of a title they don't need due to a fear of missing out). They're trying to manufacture scarcity to drive up the price, but due to the glut of titles being released by specialty presses these days, supply seems likely to outstrip demand at some point, making many (but not all) of those specialty editions less attractive as financial investments today. But to each his/her own. If people find value in collecting them, more power to them.

Thanks! The website addall.com/used/ allows you to search worldwide. Using its search tools, I've purchased books from Britain, France, Germany and Australia, among other places. I hope other commenters can suggest additional search platforms that are Europe-specific.

I feel deeply honored that I brought to mind the great host of Bookworm, even if only in a small way.

I did the same thing in my house -- converted a side room into a dedicated library (complete with a ladder). Library sales are unsung heroes of book collecting!

Thanks for your thoughtful comment sharing your experiences hunting for antiquarian books! I can empathize completely with your preservationist motivation. Among other things, I collect old (17th, 18th & 19th century) books that show how the world and its understanding of itself changed rapidly through political and economic developments, scientific progress, and global exploration. Some of my most treasured books are ones I found in rummage sales or in used book bins of small-town general stores in Vermont, NH and Maine when I lived in the area many years ago. Like you, I enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

I haven't. He's high on my list of authors I want to read, though. For many years, I associated him primarily with his (underwhelming) horror films of the 1980s and 90s. It wasn't until much later that I realized his writing far surpassed his filmic output.

That's frustrating, but not uncommon with many publishers lately. I've noticed some of the higher-end specialty presses reissuing some limited editions as trade editions later on with much larger print runs, thereby undermining the value of the original limited editions.

Great point!

I don't have a TARDIS, but I recently saw some ingenious bookshelves suspended from the ceiling in a small house. Perhaps that might help? :D Thanks for watching!

Thanks! As a themed experiment, I recorded a couple of short stories last Halloween and uploaded them here on my channel. I plan to record more in the future. They're fun to perform.

Thanks! I think I'll hold onto them. :D The way artificial intelligence is progressing, it wouldn't surprise me if the technology to replace one's voice on phone calls or on live streams in real time emerges soon. If you wanted to sound like Cary Grant, you'd be able to do it. It would be similar to the beauty filter getting a lot of attention on TikTok that digitally alters one's appearance to more closely mimic an ideal standard built into the app.

🤣

Fortunately, my house has a sprinkler system, and the books are protected behind glass. :D

@@thelibraryladder Have you read the Nick Velvet story by Ed Hoch where Velvet is hired to steal a first edition from a library with a fire-suppression system that locks the library air tight and pumps in a gas to extinguish the flames? (Or was it a Lawrence Block “Burglar” novel that I’m thinking of?)

Thanks! I'm so glad you think so.

Thanks! I love the look of open bookcases (and I have several), but I hate the damage that dust, pollen and mold spores can cause over time, which is why I have glass doors protecting many of my most collectible books.

@@thelibraryladder I do understand.

That sounds like a wonderful collection, particularly if it reflects the things that interest you and make you happy! I hope things settle down soon where you are to permit life to return to normal. Thanks for watching and sharing!

Thanks for asking! At the encouragement of viewers, I tried narrating a couple of short stories last October and I uploaded them here on my channel. They're classic spooky stories if you're interested, and they were a lot of fun to perform. I hope to find time to record more in the future.

@@thelibraryladder oh that's great! Im going to check those out. You have a very soothing and distinct voice.

Thanks! I have a couple of microphones that I've used for different videos. The room where I record is acoustically very challenging because of the many flat, reflective surfaces in it that generate a lot of reverb and standing sound waves. In some videos, I've used an Audix SCX-One hypercardioid pencil mic, and in other videos, including this one, I've used a Sennheiser MKE 600 short shotgun mic. In both cases, the mic is suspended above me on a boom stand about 18 inches away. I like both mics, and each one provides a slightly different sonic character to the recordings.

@@thelibraryladder Wow, no wonder you sound so good. I love your videos. Especially the one where you show off the artwork in the kids' books in your collection.

Thanks and welcome aboard! It's always a pleasure to meet another book collector.

I've taken a similar approach, although I've had difficulty with the discard step. :)

That would be an upgrade for me. I think I have a 33rd printing that my mom gave me for Christmas one year. :)

Great suggestion, but I'll offer a couple of caveats for anyone reading this. Those public domain books reprinted by independent publishers often simply use the text produced from digital scans of the original (first edition) books, such as what is found at gutenberg.org (a site for free electronic versions of public domain books). Those scans frequently contain errors, some of which existed in the original text, while many are the result of inaccurate text recognition when the scan is converted to text by computer software. For example, I recently read an ebook volume of short stories that I obtained from gutenberg.org. The text was nearly accurate, with the exception that the scanning/conversion software failed to recognize most of the commas in the text, leading to their omission from the ebook. This reduced my enjoyment of the stories because, without commas to guide me, I frequently had to pause to figure out the proper context and meaning of the author's somewhat convoluted writing style. Independent publishers that use the Project Gutenberg text without proofreading and editing it for accuracy propagate the same text errors. A second, related caution pertains to public domain works that were originally published in a language other than English. The English translations that are in the public domain tend to be inferior to later translations that are still protected by copyright, and many of those public domain translations are abridged (bowdlerized) to remove content deemed objectionable for moral or political reasons in the Victorian Era.

Good point. Photos of the actual book for sale is one of the best features of eBay, and it's a major reason why I've relied heavily on eBay over the past 25 years. I occasionally purchase books sight unseen on various online platforms, but only for books described in "Like New" condition or better, and only if the price is substantially better than similarly described copies of the book with photos. I've learned not to trust listings of books described in "Very Good" condition without photos. Fortunately, eBay and Amazon Marketplace have reasonably buyer-friendly return policies if a book isn't in the condition described.

That's a completely understandable position. :)

Great question. Alas, my answer is a lamentable "It all depends." Depending on (a) the seriousness and scale of your collecting, (b) the value of the books to be collected, (c) your aesthetic preferences, and (d) your budget, there are a variety of bookcases to consider. Perhaps the most common bookcase on BookTube is the Billy bookcase from Ikea. It's an inexpensive, utilitarian model that comes in a variety of form factors and has a modular design that allows expansion and customization over time. Their main disadvantage is that they're made of cheap laminated particleboard, so they're not very durable, and the models with longer shelves will begin to sag in the middle over time if too many heavy books are placed on them. The basic Billy models also are very plain in appearance, which might not match your decorating style. Most inexpensive bookcases suffer from these same flaws, but without the modularity benefits of the Billy. Thus, for basic functionality and for assembling a large wall of bookshelves inexpensively, these might be the best value. If you plan to collect more expensive books (or books with other forms of value that you want to preserve), I strongly recommend upgrading to enclosed bookcases with glass doors. Enclosing the books provides significantly more protection from damage caused by dust, insects, rapid changes in temperature and humidity, water from sprinkler systems in a fire, and even sunlight (if the glass has UV-blocking properties). Many enclosed bookcases also are deep enough to allow double-shelving (two rows of books, front and back), which effectively doubles their capacity, although you'd want to ensure that the shelves are made of solid hardwood or thick, engineered plywood to avoid sagging. Ikea's Billy line has enclosed models, which are among the least expensive available and are somewhat more attractive than the basic Billy models, but they suffer from the same flaws I described earlier and aren't deep enough for double-shelving hardcovers. At the other end of the spectrum are custom-built bookcases (which are what I have in the room where I film my videos -- I designed them myself and hired a custom cabinetmaker to build them). They're deep enough to double- and, in some places, triple-shelve my books. And in-between those extremes, I have some enclosed cabinets in another room that combine the modular design of the Ikea shelving with the solid hardwood construction and aesthetic appeal of higher-end furniture-makers. I bought them from Bassett Furniture as part of their Guilford line of bookcases, credenzas and cabinets about 16 years ago, but I don't think they still manufacture them. They're solid cherrywood, with glass-paneled doors and enough depth to double-shelve books. I covered a ten-foot wall with four panels of them stacked eight feet high (see this photo of a different arrangement of Guilford modules at img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/0/9/7/5/7/webimg/892618753_tp.jpg ; I used the top center module in the photo and stacked several of them to cover a wall). So, depending on your objectives for your collection, I'd suggest getting the most versatile and most durable bookcase(s) you can afford. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. I haven't been in the market for bookcases for many years.

@@thelibraryladder thank you for the thoughtful response.

There's no question the period from ~1997-2010 were the golden years for online scavenging for collectible books. However, it's still possible to find great bargains online, but it tends to require more effort and patience than before now that professional and semi-professional (part-time) booksellers comprise a much larger portion of the market. Buying books in bulk lots online and at estate sales remains a solid approach to get good (and sometimes great) value.

Absolutely! You can collect any kinds of books. In this video, I focus primarily on books that can be hard to find at a reasonable price, but my advice also applies to more common or less collected books. As I said in my first tip in the video: collect what you enjoy. First editions of books (which is what I assume you meant when you referred to "authentic" books) tend to increase in financial value over time more than later editions, but often even cheaply made book club editions or paperbacks can become valuable due to their scarcity, original cover art, or historical significance. But the most important value a book has is the value it has to _you_.

Blackwood is one of my favorites. Two of the best early compilations of his stories are 1938's The Tales of Algernon Blackwood and 1949's Tales of the Uncanny and Supernatural (which was reprinted in various editions over the years). Both contain large selections of his stories, with the first volume focused on his early stories and the second on his later ones. Also, Wildside Press published a couple of megapacks of Blackwood stories about ten years ago, but they're available only in ebook format.

That's a smart way to build a collection! I hope you find more that way.

Those sound like terrific bargains! I'd love to browse those bookstores.

I agree about the particleboard. Shelves used for books need structural rigidity and strength. Solid hardwoods or engineered plywood of suitable thickness work well. Ikea's Billy bookcases are extremely popular and affordable, but they seem likely to sag over time as the weight of the books warps the particleboard shelves.

@@thelibraryladder I do like plywood, especially in furniture i.e., the Eames Chair! Particle board is only good for one purpose- an extremely flat surface for a radial arm saw.

@@thelibraryladder I'm pretty good at making shelves square, level, rock solid and nice to look at.