Guide to Collecting Old Rare Books

There’s just something charming about an old book from the days long gone. Maybe it’s the faded pages, or perhaps even the dusty cover? Either way, collecting old books is an easy way to have a little piece of history. Whether it’s a book from the 20s or 50s, finding these old books aren’t as easy as walking into your local bookstore. Instead, these old books take a bit of searching to find. But you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to be able to find and own your very own collection of antique books. Below are several ways to get started on finding old, rare, and/ or out-of-print books (Note: not all old books are rare and worth a lot of money.)

Family
The first place to look, perhaps, is in your own home! Ask around your family members to see if they have any books from the old days. You just might be surprised what you’ll find! If not, don’t worry! There are still many other ways to start your collection!

Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are perhaps the fastest way to find old books, as there is no need to scour the ads looking for the nearest garage or estate sale. Instead it’s as easy as walking into your nearest thrift store and heading towards the book section! But as with most treasures, finding an old book (and in good condition!) can take some time. Don’t be afraid to spend a good hour or two carefully looking through the shelves as you never know what book might be hidden in between more modern books.

Garage/Yard Sales
Garage/Yard sales is another great way to start your old book collection. After all, old books that haven’t been read for years are most likely going to end up in the seller’s list of things to get rid of.

Estate Sales
Estate sales is perhaps an easier method to find old books. Estate sales, in which the contents of older homes are being sold off (for example a house that has items from the 50s and such) are most likely to have old books. Although this isn’t always the case as people don’t always keep their books, estate sales are still a great place to start your search.

Online
If you have a certain book in mind, searching endlessly in thrift stores, garage sales or estate sales might not be the best approach. Popular sites such as Ebay and Etsy are known to sell old vintage/antique books but there are also many websites that specifically sell old books. First things first, do your research! Find out if the website is safe and the seller is trustworthy (Read any customer reviews if they are available.)

Collecting old antique books can be fun as well as a great way to add that charming touch to your bookshelf. Although building up your collection will take time, there is nothing like the joy of finally finding an antique book. And well, who doesn’t love a good scavenger’s hunt once in awhile?