The Blogof Comellas Rare Books2026-02-21T18:18:50+02:00Copyright 2004-2005Ublog Reload 1.0.5JULIEN<![CDATA[My own position is very nicely reflected by "COPERNIC" when he says <i>"For me books are an investment into myself"</i> and later states <i>"Will ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=72#702020-06-10T17:12:48+02:002020-06-10T17:12:48+02:002020-06-10T17:12:48+02:00"For me books are an investment into myself" and later states "Will they be of value to anyone? I believe that this is possible, because they are special, and because they gave so much to me." "LAMBERT" also illustrates my understanding of the impact of the internet on rare books prices when he says that some books bought in the 80's or the 90's are now known to be commonly available, and can now be purchased at a fraction of their initial price. When Smith's 1738 System of Opticks used to sell at $6,000, the rare book market was still using rather craft techniques and the demand could meet the offer at this price because the availability was limited. Nowadays, through a simple internet search, up to 5 different copies of the work will pop up, priced between $1,800 and $3,500. Can 5 available copies worldwide be considered "a lot"? They probably do, considering the current number of potential buyers of this book and this is the main reason why its price has decreased but still, among thousands of antiquarian book shops (ILAB counts around 1,800 affiliated book sellers and the internet gathers non affiliated sellers or non professional sellers as well), only 5 of them can provide this title. So, ok, it's not rare but it's not that common neither. How long will take this title to become rare? Nobody knows but given its scientific importance, perhaps will come a time when less copies will be available on the market and the price would start raising again. I wonder if before the internet the prices had a general tendency to raise up over time. This is what I have always been told by older book sellers but I wonder if there is any factual study about it. And yes, it is true, there are fads and some subjects / authors / titles are actively pursued by collectors at one moment, and completely forgotten at others. And this works the other way around, even with great names, like you say with Newton's Opticks (1704). So let's continue doing like "CAMPANELLA" by pursuing the books of our dreams. Time will tell if our dreams and tastes are significant to others...]]>LAMBERT (J. H.)<![CDATA[Someone new to collecting might be able to find a workable investment strategy for book collecting. But even with that, investment alone is a ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=72#692020-06-08T20:24:05+02:002020-06-08T20:24:05+02:002020-06-08T20:24:05+02:00 But old collectors are seeing their investment diminish. Books I bought in the 80's and 90's are now known to be commonly available. Like many 2nd (and most 3rd) tier books, their value has diminished. Most of these can now sold only at a price much less than what I paid for them. In my field and example would be Smith's "A Compleat System of Opticks", 1738. In the 80's one needed to spend $6,000. Today it can be had for $2000.
In this regard, I am glad I did not collect books as an investment but because I wanted to learn their history, study their content, and find how they fit into history. If one enjoys books, and has some discretionary income, book collecting can be deeply satisfying. But, unless one is dealing with a great deal of money, I think it is difficult to make book collecting work as an investment strategy. It is no longer enough to simply wait a long time (10 years, say) for books to rise in value. If one collects in a niche or follows a fad, then 10 years from now the fad for such books may have passed and one's investment may very well have vanished.
My conclusion: unless one if very rich, it is very difficult (though not impossible) to make book collecting work as an investment strategy.
David L. DiLaura
]]>CAMPANELLA (T.)<![CDATA[No, they can't. It's just an illusion of many collectors.<br />Leandro Cantamessa]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=72#682020-06-05T22:00:03+02:002020-06-05T22:00:03+02:002020-06-05T22:00:03+02:00Leandro Cantamessa]]>COPERNIC (N.)<![CDATA[No doubt we like to believe that "raritas et utilitas" drive the value of things. But that is only in exchange. Don't we also believe ...]]>https://www.livres-rares.com/english/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=72#672020-06-05T21:35:26+02:002020-06-05T21:35:26+02:002020-06-05T21:35:26+02:00 For me books are an investment into myself. I learn through my books. About the past and about me. The good life (eudomonia) is the result.
And then, they will be around, when I am gone. Will they be of value to anyone? I believe that this is possible, because they are special, and because they gave so much to me.]]>