J & S DeSimone Booksellers sell books of every kind and on every subject and topic.


But we have a special focus on books on history, and on rare books. We also sell historical collectibles and memorabilia, busts, medals, military flags and uniforms, historical toys, prints, lithographs, CDs and DVDs, and more. Particularly items which have a special interest for the collector interested in things historical.


Here are some questions visitors to our book store and web site often ask:


  • Is My Book Rare?
  • Are Edition, Printing, Issue and State The Same?
  • How Do I Know If My Book Is a First Edition?
  • Are Non-First Editions Valuable?
  • Do Dust Jackets Add Value To Books?
  • Is Book Condition Important?
  • How Should I Store My Books?
  • Ask Us A Question

    • Is My Book Rare?

    Books are rare for a variety of reasons, not simply because they are old. A rare book is one which is desirable, important and/or scarce. The importance of a book is based on its influence both at the time of its printing and its lasting impact.


    The more important books tend to be more desirable to collectors as they feel affected by it in some way and want a copy. Scarcity is affected by many things including the number of copies printed and the quality of the materials used. Genre also affects scarcity as some genres are harder to find in fine condition, and others have smaller printing numbers.


    The final two factors on scarcity are a book's popularity and any scandal or controversy associated with it.

    Edition, Printing, Issue and State -- Are they all the same?

    Edition pertains to all the copies printed from the same plates or type setting without substantial change. A first edition is the first public appearance of a text in that form.


    Editions can appear in separate printings. A printing includes all copies printed from the same plates or type setting at a given time. For example, an edition could have 10,000 copies of which 4,000 were printed in February, and 3,000 printed each in April and June from the same plates.


    There are often small corrections made to a text during the course of printing. This can be to correct misspellings, add advertisements or correct other mistakes not initially noticed.


    Copies showing these changes are said to belong to different states. Sometimes these states can be prioritized but often they cannot.


    Once a change, correction, addition or other alteration is made by the publisher and these copies are treated as a separate publication entity, it results in a different issue of that edition. Issues can be prioritized as to first, second etc.


    Many collectors may find the first, uncorrected issue the most desirable as many consider it a true first edition, however, in some cases the later issue is the more complete issue with preferable additions to the text, an "expanded version" so to speak.

    How do I know if my book is a First Edition?

    Unfortunately, there is no standard way to tell if your book is a first edition. This depends on the book itself. Books published prior to the 20th century were not consistently identified as first editions. Among those that are identified now a variety of methods are used. They include printing "First Edition" or "First Printing" on the copyright page, using a special code, letter or series of numbers on the copyright page, and stating the printing number on the dust jacket. Bill McBride has published a nice reference in his "Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions" that goes over various publishers and their method of identifying first editions.


    Often an author's works are studied in detail and characteristics of the book is recorded and can include type of binding, color of cloth, price on a dust jacket, a photograph or award notice, or a misspelling on a certain page. These characteristics are known as "points" and are needed to determine the edition, issue and state of a particular book. Mr. McBride has also published a guide to "Points of Issue: A Compendium of Points of Issue of Books by 19th-20th Century Authors". Any serious collector would find both of these books indispensable to their booking.

    Should I only collect first editions, or is there any value in later ones?

    Typically the first edition of a book is the most desirable, however there are many exceptions to this rule. This is often the case with non-fiction works in history, travel or exploration where later editions may include additional material and research not included in the first edition. Bibliographers will often name a "best edition", or an edition that is preferred for its content and organization.


    With many early and overly important works a first edition may be unattainable or unaffordable and so a later edition is often the only avenue for a collector. Some collectors may only want to collect "First American" or "First English" editions, preferring to be able to read their collection where true firsts are in another language.


    Many collectors will also value a later edition if it is, for example, signed by the author or as part of a nicely bound set of an authors work. Other collectors will treasure a later edition if it has a sentimental value attached to it, if it was picked up at a certain point in time, or given as a gift, for example.

    How important is the dust jacket to the value of a book?

    Dust jackets, or wrappers, were designed to protect the binding of a book during shipping and were thus usually discarded. Most early dust jackets, there initial use dating to the 19th century, have not survived. However, during the 20th century dust jackets became more artistic and often included advertising for an author or publisher's other works. Many collectors value the dust jacket as they search to find a book as close to its original appearance in every way. Many will "trade up" to get a book with an original dust jacket if possible.

    Is Condition Important?

    The importance of condition in collecting, both books and dust jackets, should not be underestimated. As the adage goes, a collector should by the best copy they can afford. Because they are made of paper, dust jackets are fragile by nature. As mentioned above, they were initially designed to protect a binding but remain the outermost defense of a book to sunlight, handling, humidity and dirt. They can often show a great deal of wear in the form of fading, darkening, staining, chipping or tears. Sadly, a fair number of dust jackets are, even today, discarded.


    Collectors must also bear in mind the age of a book relative to its attainable condition. For example, a 18th or 19th century book is now containing, most likely, foxing, repair or other wear to it and thus only found in "very good" condition. Likewise, a more modern first edition is likely to be found in "fine" condition without any defects.

    How Should I Store My Books?

    Books are designed to be handled and read but should still be handled with gentle care. Books should be kept in a stable environment that is not too hot, too cold, too damp or too dry. High humidity can cause warping to the boards and encourage the growth of mold. It should be avoided if possible, using dehumidifiers and/or air conditioning as appropriate. Books should also be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid fading dust jackets and fading and destroying leather bindings.


    Occasionally it is necessary to treat leather bindings with a leather dressing and a gentle buffing to keep the leather supple. More fragile books would benefit from a case or clamshell box. Mylar protective covers will help preserve both dust jackets or leather bindings.


    each Us Online

    Do you have other questions? Please email us from our contact page or at info@jsdbooks.com, and let us help you find the answer.