Are you a book collector or a book purchaser?

I guess the distinction that I'm making here is that some folks purchase books that they simply want to read, while others collect books for a specific reason (first editions, favorite author, autographed books, etc).

I would think that most people do a little bit of both - for example, I collect autographed books, but most of the books in my house are there because I wanted to read them. In fact, I only collect autographed books from those writers whom I admire or if they have some sort of "historical significance" (which is why I have an autographed copy of a J. Edgar Hoover book).

I was thinking about this the other day when I was in a used book store, and I happened to pick up a copy of a book called "Unlimited Access: An FBI Agent Inside the Clinton White House". It was autographed by the author (Gary Aldrich), but after reading the book jacket (and seeing that it was a choice of the Conservative Book Club)I put it back on the shelf.

Anyway, just curious....


Tim

if i have an author i like i try to get all their books or at least READ all them.

I will usually try to resell a book after I've read it. The exceptions are also of "historical significance"("Crashing the Party" autographed by Ralph Nader) or books with information I may want to reference at some point. I keep most everything I find Shakespeare/Bob Dylan-related.

I have 6 million right outside my door.
I buy only my faves.

I am a proud supporter of my public library. I say proud supporter because somehow I always manage to turn my books in a couple of days late and I have to pay late fees! I don't mind giving them this money.

But I will buy a book if it's by one of my favorite authors, touched me, etc. When I do decide to buy one, I go all out -- must be hardback, try to get first edition, autographed, etc. My bookshelves are numerous and stuffed.

No kidding, I have an autographed copy of Monica Lewinsky's book. Think what you will -- it's too hard to explain the circumstances!:silly:

"No kidding, I have an autographed copy of Monica Lewinsky's book. Think what you will -- it's too hard to explain the circumstances!"


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I also support my libary with overdue fines! My husband refers to the non-fiction section as the CrispyQ wing. ;) We also have a new used book store with a nice selection.

I have a great collection of First Editions, mostly on geopolitics. Lots of good books on Iran/Contra and BCCI, terrorism, CIA covert ops, and other breezy topics. My two favs are a First/First of Hunter S. Thompson's 'The Great Shark Hunt', and a First/Fifth of Chuck Palahniuk's 'Fight Club'.

man i loved that guy

I'd love to get my hands on a clean hardcover copy of Hells Angels. I see a few on eBay.

I have some first edition works, as well as some rare works. I found a copy of Alexander Pope's translation of the Iliad, Volume 5 dating from the 1880's. I have a collection of his poems and essays from the same period, as well as a collection of Whittier's works. Both in good condition.

Anything I want to read over and over, take my time on, or can't get at the library I'll buy. Otherwise I use the library (we have an excellent library system).

so I guess I am a hunter--collector kinda person


I love old books

We've had them in the family and they got to me since I'm the big reader in the family. I have the first edition of the Bible story books, complete set of Starsky & Hutch books (the entire set is hard to come by these days), a few very old textbooks and a few other first edition books that have somehow held up. My grandpa gave me his 1961 phonebook from Oklahoma City, too.

I am currently trying to piece together first editions of the Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf.

My latest autographed book is 'Disarming Iraq' by Hans Blix. I am a member of a foreign relations institute in Sweden and he gave a lecture there. At the end he sold and signed his book translated into Swedish and smiled a bit when I stuck the English original (US publication) in front of him.