Why Do People Collect Books?

Why Do People Collect Books?

People collect rare, vintage, and antique books for a variety of reasons but ultimately they all fall into one of these categories. If you’re not sure what makes a book collectible, rare, vintage or antique check out our page explaining the differences.

Nostalgia

Nothing quite hits the memories like picking up a copy of what your parents read to you to put you to bed at night. The artwork, the size, and feel of the book all bring back that rush of memories. You’d even be surprised at how much of the story itself you remember.

Status

An antique book has many different purposes that all bring value to the table. Antique books often have ornate covers that you won’t find on present day copies. These antique books were built to be appealing to the eye in a style that is not matched today outside of luxury copies. Because of this, they make a great decoration in one’s home. An entire shelf filled is an impressive addition to any room. And we can’t forget the fact that its a status symbol. Not just anyone can afford a couple hundred volumes of antique books.

Investing

Investing in antique books can be a great way to store wealth or even make money if you follow current trends. The price of everything seems to keep going up and up and that has included antique books. If you’re a deal shopper it can even be easier to gain “equity” in your book collection. Most books can be easily liquidated at a bookstore as well, but be prepared to give the dealer their cut.

Entertainment

Everyone has a hobby and some people enjoy collecting books. There are so many things to learn about authors, editions, printings, and caring for collected books. But what I think everyone finds the most fun is hunting for that treasure in the wild. There’s nothing quite like going out to thrift shops, estate sales, flee markets to try to find that one in a million book that you’re looking for. And often times, the more you learn about this hobby the more books you end up wanting. It truly can be addicting.