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Welcome to Coelacanth Books. We are bona fide bibliomaniacs, committed to providing you with the personal attention that book lovers deserve. Each of our partners has 20 years experience with antiquarian books; we have been selling online since 1999. You can find selections of our books listed on our website, bonanzle.com, biblio.com, and amazon.com.
Our areas of interest include history, geography, Americana, science and nature, preferably 19th century or early 20th, as well as signed/limited/first editions in general.
New Table of Contents
Interested in Collecting Books?
* Understanding rare/collectible book listings *
Booksellers use many specialized terms to describe books. They also use very specific (if somewhat subjective) guidelines for grading the condition of books. Take the time to learn what listings mean and feel free to ask a dealer questions, request photos, etc. if you are unsure about a book you may be interested in buying.
Resources for understanding terminology & grading are listed in our links section below.
* What books should I collect? *
You should collect based on your interests. You may want to collect by author, by genre, by topic, all editions of a particular book, etc. The goal should be to build a collection that you personally find rewarding.
For a collection that stands the test of time and keeps its value, always try to collect books in the best and most complete condition possible. If you are collecting fiction, you may want to focus on first editions (hardcover and paperback); if collecting non-fiction, make sure books include all their illustrations and maps.
Bibliographies for specific fields or authors can help you organize your collecting, and online resources abound.
Booksellers use many specialized terms to describe books. They also use very specific (if somewhat subjective) guidelines for grading the condition of books. Take the time to learn what listings mean and feel free to ask a dealer questions, request photos, etc. if you are unsure about a book you may be interested in buying.
Resources for understanding terminology & grading are listed in our links section below.
* What books should I collect? *
You should collect based on your interests. You may want to collect by author, by genre, by topic, all editions of a particular book, etc. The goal should be to build a collection that you personally find rewarding.
For a collection that stands the test of time and keeps its value, always try to collect books in the best and most complete condition possible. If you are collecting fiction, you may want to focus on first editions (hardcover and paperback); if collecting non-fiction, make sure books include all their illustrations and maps.
Bibliographies for specific fields or authors can help you organize your collecting, and online resources abound.
Caveat Emptor: Understanding First Editions
Collectors of fiction (less so non-fiction) often focus on collecting first editions. If you do want to collect the "first edition" of a book, what does that really mean?
Traditionally, a bookseller only referred to a copy of a book as a first edition if it was printed from the original set of type (or in the post-metal type age, printed as part of the very first run for that book). Thus "first edition" is shorthand for "first edition, first printing" at a minimum. It can be subdivided even further (see first edition terms list below).
Furthermore, many collectors consider the true first edition to "follow the flag" - this means that if the author is English, for example, the first UK edition is considered the true first. Some collectors will make it a point to acquire both the first UK and first American, or other national first editions, particularly if the DJ artwork is different.
Not all collectors follow this logic - some prefer the first edition that actually prints first.
For earlier books, other factors can influence determination of the true first, including binding color and the addition of printer's ads. Some collectors may consider this splitting hairs, but others take it quite seriously.
If you are interested in collecting first editions, we highly recommend that you pick up a guide such as McBride's "Identification of First Editions" (and "Points of Issue" for collectible fiction - see links below) to help you determine whether a book is truly a first. Every publisher indicates first editions differently, so it can be very difficult to know whether a book is a first or not.
It is important to do your own research and verify first edition status on a book. Unfortunately online bookselling sites are filled with books listed as "first editions" that may or may not be so. An honest bookseller who has done his/her research will always be willing to verify for you the points that indicate the book is indeed a first printing, first edition, and will accept return of the book if you disagree with that assessment.
Also keep in mind that because dustjackets are printed separately, they too can be characterized as first/second editions, first/second printings, etc. Thus a book can be a first edition, first printing, first state, while the DJ may be a second state.
Traditionally, a bookseller only referred to a copy of a book as a first edition if it was printed from the original set of type (or in the post-metal type age, printed as part of the very first run for that book). Thus "first edition" is shorthand for "first edition, first printing" at a minimum. It can be subdivided even further (see first edition terms list below).
Furthermore, many collectors consider the true first edition to "follow the flag" - this means that if the author is English, for example, the first UK edition is considered the true first. Some collectors will make it a point to acquire both the first UK and first American, or other national first editions, particularly if the DJ artwork is different.
Not all collectors follow this logic - some prefer the first edition that actually prints first.
For earlier books, other factors can influence determination of the true first, including binding color and the addition of printer's ads. Some collectors may consider this splitting hairs, but others take it quite seriously.
If you are interested in collecting first editions, we highly recommend that you pick up a guide such as McBride's "Identification of First Editions" (and "Points of Issue" for collectible fiction - see links below) to help you determine whether a book is truly a first. Every publisher indicates first editions differently, so it can be very difficult to know whether a book is a first or not.
It is important to do your own research and verify first edition status on a book. Unfortunately online bookselling sites are filled with books listed as "first editions" that may or may not be so. An honest bookseller who has done his/her research will always be willing to verify for you the points that indicate the book is indeed a first printing, first edition, and will accept return of the book if you disagree with that assessment.
Also keep in mind that because dustjackets are printed separately, they too can be characterized as first/second editions, first/second printings, etc. Thus a book can be a first edition, first printing, first state, while the DJ may be a second state.
First Edition Definitions
Depending on the printing history of a particular book, "first edition" status may be further subdivided as follows:
- First printing (or first impression): From the first run of books originally printed. Usually a second printing is ordered when the first sells out. Traditionally "first edition" when used to describe a book means "first edition, first printing."
- First state: Occurs when errors are corrected "on press." For example, a book run is started - these books are the first printing, first state. The press is stopped and errors are fixed - these books are first printing, second state. A famous example is "The Great Gatsby." The first state has several minor errors which were corrected in the second state.
- First issue: Often used interchangeably with first state, but it is a little different. This occurs after all of the books in the first printing have been printed. Some are bound and sent out (first issue). An error is then corrected in the remaining copies and these are bound and sent out (second issue).
Other Firsts
Although generally "first edition" calls to mind the first hardcover-with-dustjacket edition of a book, there are a host of "other firsts" you can collect that are part of a book's publishing history. Thes are not all of the "firsts" available - see links for more information.
- First paperback edition: In some cases books even appear first in paperback (sometimes only in paperback). Early sci-fi and mystery first paperbacks are popular with collectors.
- Limited editions: A book may be issued in a limited edition, possibly numbered and/or signed. Limited Editions Club for example published many books in runs of 1500, with new illustrations and signed by the artist.
- First book club edition (BCE): Usually these have little or no value, but in some cases, the BCE is the true first edition. A number of science fiction books were issued first as BCE's.
- First thus: This is a catch-all that refers to any new edition of a book where it has been substantially revised, new material added, or it is has been published by someone other than the original publisher. These are more interesting if they represent a substantial change to the original content or present the content in a new way - such as a handsome book design or the inclusion of illustrations.
- Advanced Reading Copy (ARC): This is a copy that goes out in advance of publication to reviewers, usually in softcover. They can be very collectible.
Book Information Links
- Coelacanth Books Website
- Our website -- see our listings of rare & collectible books here
- Book Terminology
- An excellent list of common terms used to describe books
- Book Condition Definitions
- A standard set of condition definitions used by many booksellers (although there are others)
- Bibliophile Mailing List
- An excellent mailing list devoted to book buying, selling, and discussion. Subscription required
- Bibliophile Bullpen
- A blog offering daily news and tips related to secondhand book buying and selling
- First Edition Guides
- McBride's "Identification of First Editions" and "Points of Issue" are an important set of reference books, in a handy pocket size. Widely used by booksellers.
- Basic Edition Identification
- Good list of the various "firsts" and other editions that may exist for a given book
- Brodart
- A source for mylar book jacket covers and other book conservation supplies
- Facsimile Dust Jackets
- An excellent source for thousands of facsimile DJ's.
- Our Bonanzle Booth
- This is our live booth on Bonanzle, a great new marketplace!
Our Services
- Selling rare & collectible books
- Buying individual & small collections of books in our areas of interest (in New England)
- Free searching for books offered only by professional, vetted sellers
- Book acquisition: buying & vetting books for you, and assembly of book collections
- Minor/moderate archival quality book and paper repair
- Other help: locating reference information, providing advice on book buying. Please feel free to email us if you have any questions about books or book collecting!
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