Expert: Edward Nezuh - 9/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello there!
I wanted to ask an expert some things about books, but I didn't know where to find a person that would know something like that or where to find at least similar answers on the internet.
Few years ago I started to collect books. Books that I love and want to read all over again.
When I want to read a book, first I try to find it in my language, then I buy it, read it, and then I want to have and read the book in language that it was written. So I find the book on the internet, but there are so many editions of books and I simply don't know what edition to buy!
Of course, I would like to have first editions, but at this time, I am not in possibilty to afford something like that because I am not old enough to make my own money, so I spend my parents money :D
I think it is the best to buy older editions that is possible (not the first one, but maybe if there is 20 editions, it would be nice to have at least 10th?). What do you think?
The problem with this one is that I don't know what to think, and I was hoping if you could help me with this enigma? :D

Thank you in advance!

Greetings,
Rina.


ANSWER: Rina,
You can usually find which editions were released first with a Bibliography of the author you're collecting.  Google is your friend here.  Many first editions of modern authors are pretty affordable.  The thing about buying a 10th printing of a book is that it's probably worth less than the cover price.  The golden rule is that you should always buy the best copy you can afford.  First editions are best, 10th editions are generally worthless.  There is a free document floating around online called "ABCs for Book Collectors".  It's a book that breaks down just about everything about book collecting in an easy to grasp manner.

Feel free to get back to me with further questions.

Ed Nezuh

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Ed, thanks for answering my question, but I still have few ones.
I downloaded this book you recommended and I'll be sure to read it.

I don't know how to put all these things in words so I'll just give you an example :D
I love Michael Ende's Neverending Story, and I want to buy it in english language. I started my laptop and went to this site fantasticfiction.com.
I searched Michael Ende author and the site popped around 20 different editions with different publishing days, 10 different hardcovers and 15 paperbacks more. So this is my dilema XD
I know that I won't be able to find first published edition copy from 1979 in german, nor will I find or better; will be able to buy the first translated in english edition from I don't know when; in paperback.
And this is the problem too! Everyone thinks that hardcovers are the best, which is true, because they are much more durable than paperbacks, which have flexible, easily damaged paper covers and glued spines, and personally, I try as much to buy only hardcovers. But what if the eldest editions are just in paperbacks?
Wow this is so hard but I won't give up, I love books way too much.

Thanks again and sorry if I bother!

Rina Ulliel

Answer
It's no trouble.  Try the advanced search on www.abebooks.com.  You can order the search results by year so you'll get earliest printings first.  It's true, sometimes the paperback editions are actually the true first printing.  Generally speaking, collectors want the first time the text appeared in print, if it happened to be a paperback original then that's just the way it is.

Feel free to get back to me with any further questions.