ABC for Book Collectors

Hart-Davis, London, fifth, revised edition (1972), reprinted with corrections 1974. Cloth, 8vo, 21 cm,. 211 pp. From the blurb: "Foxed, not in STC, rare in boards, Q6 is a cancel as usual, secondary binding, Harleian style, made-up - do you know the meaning of these and hundreds of similar terms constantly used in the catalogues of antiquarian booksellers and auctioneers ? If not, John Carter's expert but informal manual is the book you have been waiting for. Not only is the actual language of book-collecting full of jargon and special terminology. The rules, conventions and taboos of the cult are also legitimately puzzling to the layman, and its technique involves many unsuspected subtleties. Here, under about 450 alphabetical entries, ranging in length from a single line to several pages, may be found definition and analysis of the technical terms of book-collecting and bibliography, interspersed with salutary comment on such subjects as auctions, condition, facsimiles and fakes, "points", rarity, and the like. This is an essential reference book for every book collector, from aspirant to addict. It belongs on the private shelf of all but the most omniscient of librarians and antiquarian booksellers. And it will entertain any general reader who relishes the niceties of connoisseur-ship for their own sake. Top edge slightly spotted, otherwise near Very Good in slightly used dustwrapper.