ABCD Books in Camden, Maine - Used, Out-of-Print and Rare Books

We at ABCD Books stand ready to help both the beginning and advanced collector build a collection.

We believe that book collecting is a passion, and that one should collect what one loves. Books may or may not increase in value, so value should be a secondary consideration. That said, there are a couple of guidelines that you may want to keep in mind:

Not all old books are scarce and valuable. There is little direct correlation between age and value in books. Buy the best condition you can afford, because only books in very good or fine condition stand a chance of increasing in value. Avoid books with missing pages or maps. The importance of condition cannot be overstated.
Earlier works of an author tend to be more desirable.
Avoid modern paperbacks, Book Club editions, former library books, textbooks and outdated reference books, older books on popular topics such as health care and business, condensed versions of popular books. If you wish to collect such books anyway, you should pay very little for them.

Some of the very best advice we have seen on book collecting comes from Charlie Lovett in his Everybody's Guide to Book Collecting (Write Brain Publishers, Overland park, Kansas, 1993). Here are Charlie's "Ten Commandments of Book Collecting":

Buy books that you love - all other considerations are secondary.
Set limits without limiting yourself. True, it's an oxymoron, but try to gain focus without losing imagination.
Be discriminating. Condition is the most important factor in the value of a book.
Invest in a few basic reference books* on book collecting. They will pay for themselves many times over.
Learn. Read reference books, dealers' catalogues, and anything about books you can get your hands on.
Be prepared. Bookshops surface in the most unlikely of places, so don't get caught without your want list or any other guides you may need.
Buy it. I never met a collector who regretted making a particular purchase. I have met hundreds who regretted not making one.
Take care of your books. Treat them with respect.
Get to know the people. Dealers and collectors are your greatest resource for books and friendship. Cultivate relationships with them.
Share. The greatest joy of collecting is sharing your passion and your books with others.**

*To help you get started, you might want to look at these books:

Everybody's Guide to Book Collecting, by Charlie Lovett. Write Brain Publishers, Overland Park, Kansas, 1993.
Book Collecting: A Comprehensive Guide, by Allen and Patricia Ahern. G.P. Putnam's & Sons, New York, 1995.
ABC for Book Collectors, by John Carter. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1988.
Used and Rare: Travels in the Books World, by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone. St. Martin's Press, New York, 1997.
The regional Used Book Lovers' Guides.
A Gentle Madness, by Nicholas A. Basbanes. Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1995.
First Editions: A Guide to Identification, edited by Edward N. Zempel and Linda A. Verkler. The Spoon River Press, Peoria, Illinois, 1995.

There is also a very useful Glossary of Terms at the Advanced Book Exchange web site.

**ABCD Books recommends that you don't lend books.