Book Collecting: A Guide for Amateurs

"Book Collecting: A Guide for Amateurs" by J. Herbert Slater is a handbook created for newcomers interested in the world of book collecting in the late 1800s. It acts as a key resource for those starting their adventures with books, exploring the history of books themselves and explaining the basics of collecting, along with important words and customs related to books. The guide probably discusses things like spotting rare books, figuring out how much they are worth, and providing tips for building a good collection. The beginning of the book walks through the story of book gathering, starting with old handwritten manuscripts and the first libraries in Egypt and Greece, like the well-known library in Alexandria. Slater presents the idea of someone who loves books and tells how books changed from ancient times to when printing was invented, spotlighting important people, happenings, and ways that book-loving took shape, stressing that collectors should learn how to carefully choose items.