Building your library on a budget

So now we are talking about book collecting which leads me to wonder. I know when it comes to rare and valuable books, condition matters. Say you buy an expensive coin book and you want to read it. Won't the book lose value once you handle it to read since it may end up creased and all?

 

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I admit I use cover protectors on any valuable books. Other than that, if you have clean hands there is not any damage done from using them. It may be the geekiest thing I do, ordering cover protectors for my books, but it helps retain their values.

Another good reason to buy from used book dealers. If you find a good condition book but slightly used, you are not damaging it in any way.

 

Just an update with my most recent purchase.

My main focus right now is Braided Hair cents (1839-1857) so I went and bought the book United States Copper cents to be able and determine varities. It is a nice book that is very detailed but minimal pictures so I was confused about a few items and couldn't seem to attribute the coins very well.

So....

I searched online to find out when collections of Braided Hair cents had been sold. I contacted those auction houses and asked if they had back catalogs for sale. I now have two auction catalogs with top quality pictures (from top quality coins) for nearly every single variety known. If you look at the picture shown you will see actual size pictures along with enlargments for each coin. The page lists 1853 coins for varieties n-3, n-4, n-5, n-6. Over 700 pages of details!

Might it be worth it to look for the same type of catalogs for a type of coin you are interested in?

 

Yes, excellent point about auction catalogs. Some auction catalogs are coin books in their own right. Shore's collection of Parthian sold by CNG comes to mind, as does the BCD collection that has been sold recently. A top quality auction catalog is a joy to read either way.

 

Check local consignment auctions I have bought them when they have a table of odds & ends they start out say $7.00 each your choice
etc. It goes on for awhile then they make stacks say 8 in a stack, I have bought many coin books mixed in with others for $10.00 a stack . I keep the coin books & donate the ones I do not want to the libary .This happend alot up this way .

Sandy

 

Here is a site I found that has many older auction catalogs for sale. I have never bought from it but it does seem to list many of the major ones.

http://brycebooks.squarespace.com/storage/Coin-Auction-Catalogs.htm

 

For a thorough listing of extant catalogs (though not for sale), I recommend the Fitzwilliam Museum.

http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/coins/library/salescatalogue/

 

And to think, I throw out about 15 of these every year.

Never get to throw out any CNG literature, though, since maybe I don't spend enough there, (hint hint).

 

Here is a site I found that has many older auction catalogs for sale. I have never bought from it but it does seem to list many of the major ones.

http://brycebooks.squarespace.com/storage/Coin-Auction-Catalogs.htm

I've brought catalogs, Price Realized list,and periodicals from Bryce. Excellent dealer!

 

Here is a photo of my small numismatic library

 

Looks like an excellent resource sir. Don't you find yourself enjoying the coins you own more since you know so much more about them.

In some ways, I view a good library as a "numismatic enjoyment magnifier", gaining me more enjoyment per dollar spent on coins.

 

I agree medoraman .