With millennials unexpectedly discovering print books, suddenly book collecting has a future, not just a past. In Book Collecting Now: The Value of Print in a Digital Age, Matthew Budman offers a concise, engaging guide to building a book collection and celebrates the young, diverse collectors revitalizing what he calls “the world’s greatest pastime.”
Book Collecting Now examines the changing demographics of modern-day book collectors and demystifies the process of starting a collection. Budman’s guide explains fundamentals like: identifying first editions, how to get the best deals, understanding the value of autographs, care and repair of books, and the history of book collecting.
Recognizing the sea change already sweeping through book collecting, Budman writes to the new generation of young and increasingly female collectors. He encourages readers that anyone, regardless of budget or experience, can build a collection. It’s simple: if you love books, you are ready to be a collector.
Novices and experienced collectors alike will benefit from Budman’s up-to-date materials, while booksellers and librarians will find his observations on changing trends in book collecting particularly informative.