Does anyone collect old books?

I recently started buying old books. So far the oldest work I have been able to acquire is a book on medicine from 1733 and I recently got a history of Glasgow from 1798. I have a bit of experience handling old books in my university library. The oldest book I have gotten my hands on is a 1490 copy of the Malleus Maleficarum. I have only picked up a little Latin from coin collecting so needless to say I couldn't understand any of it. I just wanted to handle one of the most infamous books ever written.

Does anyone else collect old books? if so, lets see them.

I absolutely love them too. I plan to have a library full one day!

Here's a link to my most recent purchase. It's pretty special in my eyes. https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/10509213-oliver-goldsmith-a-history-of-the-earth-and-animated-nature-2-volumes-1855

I find old books very attractive too,and when going either to flea markets,either to antique markets&shows,i'm taking a look by curiosity..but never got any myself(even when i've been asked sometimes for like 1-2 euro for a 120-130 year old books in well,very good condition)
Maybe i'd keep more attention next times:)

I love old books. I love everything about them. The feel, the smell. I have a small library of old books, most are from the late 1800s but some are earlier. Most are historical reference or would have been contemporary social works. I also have some from the first half of the 20th century that I treasure. One written about the Titanic and published only a few months after the incident, one that calls itself a complete history of WWII that came out in 1945 and a copy of Mein Kampf that was published in 1939 for the British public which has a hole in it from the back cover to about midway.

I had the great opportunity to handle a medieval book a few years ago, all parchment and bright illumination. The obverse and reverse of the pages had a different feel and smell. That was a great experience.

Between the books, coins, records, and antique furniture, my house is a time machine. I have a few dozen books from the 1800s. Any book from before 1895 is a rare lucky find, though. My oldest is an 1841 book on boatbuilding.

Quote: "Cerulean"​Between the books, coins, records, and antique furniture, my house is a time machine. I have a few dozen books from the 1800s. Any book from before 1895 is a rare lucky find, though. My oldest is an 1841 book on boatbuilding.

​I think we'd get along very well. I also keep and listen to records.

Some people call us hoarders, I call us time keepers with excellent taste.
None of my stuff is there not to be enjoyed.

I don't really collect them but I do have a few 19th century religious books, my favorite is from 1874. and has very hard covers along with a seal to keep the pages together:

That's beautiful! Are there any coloured pages? What is the binding like?

Oddly enough it is the religious texts that tend to be the most elaborate.

Quote: "MonaSeaclaid"​That's beautiful! Are there any coloured pages? What is the binding like?
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Sadly no, there are barely any pages with pictures and they're all black and white.. as for the binding I can't tell, all I can see is they keep the book together

The 1798 book on Glasgow just arrived. Its absolutely fascinating. Especially since most of pre-Victorian Glasgow doesn't survive. There are a few remnants and they are recognisable in the book

The Cathedral (changed slightly)

The Trongate Tower


It also goes into considerable detail about my university. Which is indispensable since the old buildings were demolished and replaced in the second half of the 19th century.
The old building:

You can see where inspiration was taken in the new building

The new building reincorporated parts of the old building. Some of these are described in the book

The Lion and Unicorn Stairs (now reconstructed outside of the university chapel)


First paragraph
Here it is today:

they don't make unicorns like this anymore

The old main gate was reincorporated into the Pearce Lodge (just next to the main building) in the late 19th century.
Described here:

I couldn't find a good photo online so I will take one next time I am on campus.

You can make out the royal arms and the cypher of Charles II above the arch.

Finally, the book also makes reference to William Hunters collection. My final year dissertation is reliant on his Scottish coin collection.

Quote: "AngHol"​I absolutely love them too. I plan to have a library full one day!
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​Here's a link to my most recent purchase. It's pretty special in my eyes. https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/10509213-oliver-goldsmith-a-history-of-the-earth-and-animated-nature-2-volumes-1855

Its stunning. ​

Quote: "cro321"​I don't really collect them but I do have a few 19th century religious books, my favorite is from 1874. and has very hard covers along with a seal to keep the pages together:
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The binding is beautiful.

I've handled a few books with incredible bindings. One was a ​collection of Scottish laws from the 1590s, it was leather with metal corners and centre (sort of like a Roman shield boss). Another was a small volume bound in some sort of white leather (it may have been vellum) and detailed with gold. The book was a small tract justifying the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, written just months after she had been beheaded in 1587.

If it was a nice off white colour it probably was vellum. Doesn't it feel nice? Even hundreds of years later.

Quote: "MonaSeaclaid"​If it was a nice off white colour it probably was vellum. Doesn't it feel nice? Even hundreds of years later.

It probably was vellum. It had held up well for a binding that was over 400 year old. I've seen similar aged leather bindings which have pretty much disintegrated. ​The only issue was that is was very tight so it was difficult to open the book. So, I was only able to read a tiny portion of it as I didn't want to force the binding and risk damage.

Not all books (or manuscripts) are in codex format. Plant-based mediums have been used for writing books and documents for centuries and it was especially prevalent in the east:



Not to mention earthen-based documents and books:



Another case of me collecting too many things

Those are yours? :O

Quote: "MonaSeaclaid"​Those are yours? :O

​Yep. Just a sliver of the manuscripts and documents in my collection. I don't own any "codex-type" books, though. Just don't have the space anymore. Here is another one that was written in silk and then lacquered to increase its stiffness:



And one in paper:

I do have an atlas from 1937, a history text book from 1956. I am trying to collect rare books, but they are few and far between for me here in the states.

Quant.Geek those are gorgeous!

Ghawk97 have you tried any online sources?

Quote: "MonaSeaclaid"​Quant.Geek those are gorgeous!

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Quote: "Quant.Geek"​Not all books (or manuscripts) are in codex format. Plant-based mediums have been used for writing books and documents for centuries and it was especially prevalent in the east:
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​Not to mention earthen-based documents and books:
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​Another case of me collecting too many things
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Wow, those are incredible. How old are the tablets and do you know what they say?​

Quote: "cmaclean"​

Quote: "Quant.Geek"​Not all books (or manuscripts) are in codex format. Plant-based mediums have been used for writing books and documents for centuries and it was especially prevalent in the east:
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​​Not to mention earthen-based documents and books:
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​​Another case of me collecting too many things
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​Wow, those are incredible. How old are the tablets and do you know what they say?​

​I haven't had the chance to send it to CDLI (http://cdli.ucla.edu) for a fuller attribution, but it indicates that two slave girls were sold. It originates from the Kingdom of Ur, which dates about 3,000 to 4,000 BCE. I have a few others that are better attributed...