Eric Knowles Antiques: A Beginner's Guide with Over 1, 400 Illustrations

Product Information

State – Minor changes made to a portion of the edition during the manufacturing stage and before all of the books were complete and released. The changes can be intentional. For example, a different state may be caused by a correction in the text or illustrations, an insertion of cancels or advertisements, or a different paper used without the intention of creating a separate issue. The changes can also be accidental; for example, a variation in the text or illustrations might occur during the printing. The term does not refer to condition. Bindings – A term generally used in the antiquarian book world to mean Fine Bindings, of which there are numerous styles. Some examples include Antique, Cambridge Style, La Greque, Dos-A-Dos, Etruscan, and Spanish Calf. Look inside the book and identify the book's publisher - complete the publisher field but leave out terms like limited, company or press. Mounted – An illustration can be mounted (as opposed to printed directly) on a blank sheet in a book.

Review Copy – A copy of a book sent out for review prior to publication. Review copies may be marked by a note on an endpaper or flyleaf (rare today), or by a slip of paper inserted into the book, which is more common at present. Rebound – The original binding of the book has been removed and a new binding has been attached and re-sewn.Colophon – A printed statement at the end of the book stating usually the title of the book, the publisher and or printer, and the place and date of publication. Issues (See States) – A portion of the printing of an edition that has a different format, binding, or paper. An issue, of an edition, is done intentionally by the publisher and can contain various states. Foxing – A patchy discoloration found in the paper of old books that have been improperly stored or exposed to high humidity. It can range from barely visible to quite unsightly. The name may derive from the fox-like reddish-brown color of the stains, or the rust chemical Ferric Oxide which may be involved. Paper so affected is said to be “foxed.” Although a negative factor in the value of the item for collectors, foxing does not affect the actual integrity of the paper.

Limited Edition – An edition issued in a stated, usually small, number of copies; the lower the number, the more valuable the copy. Very Good – A description of condition implying some slight wear. A book so described would usually be acceptable to all but the most condition-conscious of collectors. Fine copy – The highest grade of a book’s physical condition, generally taken to mean a fresh, largely unread copy of a book, with perhaps the merest trace of wear. Condition grades then descends through “near fine”, “very good plus”, “very good” and “good”. “Poor” or “reading” copies are not for purposes of collectability.Broadside – A printing, often a poem, which occurs on a single sheet of paper and only on one side; the verso (other side) is blank. When printed on both sides, the sheet becomes a “broadsheet”.

The keyword field is useful if you know the illustrator's name or some other defining aspect like the book's binding (perhaps it's leather or cloth). Book formats – The traditional terms in use for describing book formats, which are derived from early printing methodology and the size of early handmade sheets of paper. The following is offered as a guide to convert book formats to approximate book sizes – Facsimile edition – An attempt (usually done much later) to reproduce as closely as possible the first edition of a famous book.Clamshell case – A protective case with hinged side that securely retain the book within while permitting easy inspection, not necessarily (or often at the present) made from clam shells. If possible identify the book's date of publication. Complete the date fields - if you have identified the exact year of publication then put the same date into both fields. If you are unsure, you may to wish to search for books between two defined dates - eg 1870 and 1880. Browning – An overall discoloration found in the paper of some old books, sometimes due to the decomposition of the paper coating. Provenance – The history of ownership for a given copy of a book, manuscript or work of art. Often, indications of previous ownership are given by bookplates, inscriptions, special bindings and similar features. An especially noteworthy provenance may add substantial value to a book. Ephemera – An item that was usually created for reading and then subsequent disposal. Examples include letters, advertisements, magazines and newspapers.