The tube light was discovered in the early 20th century so lighting before this era is known as antique lighting. You have to be a soft light lover to be a collector of antique lighting. Also like other hobbies that allow you to store the collection in any part of the house irrespective of the house, it is not possible with antique lighting. As here you will have to have a house that allows you to decorate it with antique lighting.
So the walls, the furniture and the upholstery have to be in tune with the lighting you are planning to place in the house. The era and the style of antique lighting go a long way in decorating your home. Hence you have to convince the other members in your house about the grandiosity you are planning to implement in the house.
Before you begin your collection you have to understand the nuance of lighting of a particular era. There are styles and design variations in every era, so there are sub styles and sub designs to the main style you are looking for.
Read up books, look into the library and chat up with dealers to have a sound understanding of the lights in the decades gone by. There are chandeliers, floor lamps, ceiling lamps, wall sconces, hanging lamps and a vast variety of tabletop lamps.
You can source them out at cheap deals in the markets of India. Chor Bazaar, Bhendi Bazaar and Crawford Market are a few of the areas where you will find antique dealers with deals that will blow you off your feet. Well if they are authentic enough or not, your expertise will have to determine that.
From the classic movies of the years gone by we understand the lighting was very dim and not very bright as we have it today with tube lights and bulbs. So the lighting in your house will be similar. The sepia tone or a dull note will be observed. If you love such light to work and live in, then this is certainly your hobby area.
If you have a very active living room, put a brass table lamp. The grand look of brass is enough to elevate the look of the room along with the lighting. And with the variety available in lamp covers, you can change it according to the season. For instance light colours in the spring and darker shades in winter.
If chrome and glass is your style; look for sleek lines in decorative metals. Victorian era marks lighting ornately dressed. They are very good to look at and bring more panache to your homes.
Sometimes you see antique lights in the streets with lamp cases of the olden era. The very light and the look of the shades bring in a different mood. These can be seen in Goa along the main road.
So you have to select the style of your lighting. It could be western, rustic or china bone. Then accordingly style your home. Not always modern and antique look good, but if you have a leather sofa in burgundy and an ottoman or a loveseat of similar style and upholstery consider putting in some antique lights. Else you have to blend your home according to the lights.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Antique dolls
Over a period of time dolls have come to evolve from customs and traditions of humans. So you have dolls from the Victorian era that look like a Victorian lady and the modern ones that are hi-tech and reflect the current ideology like Lora Croft who has caught the fancy of boys and girls. Hence doll collectors look for dolls that interest them, it could be one from each era or all from one era.
You must have loved dolls when you were young, loved to curl their hair, stitch them new clothes and make them as beautiful as ever. Although your childhood is over you do not mind getting younger just for the dolls. No doubt collecting dolls is your hobby and that of a few people around the world.
From the dolls that are collected, most of them are antique dolls because antique dolls have a charm and charisma that modern dolls lack. They have been dressed like queens and princes, minus the ultra short minis and the macho look that dolls today have.
Of course there is Barbie in all her nuances dressing up like people around the world, so you can pick the Barbie that you like best. If you are looking for the dolls made in the 50s like the Betsy McCall series you can just look the name and the date of manufacture as it is printed on the body of the dolls. Sometimes marketers would put the details on the neck of the doll, so look for them if you are head on for an antique collection.
When you are considering buying a doll, the value will depend on the condition and quality of the doll. Porcelain dolls that were among the first type of dolls made should display eyes in sockets and teeth inside of an open mouth. If a tooth is missing, chances are that the doll has had a fall and the neck or some place in the doll in broken. However you can get it fixed with doll restorers who growing in India.
Dolls with original clothing and hair are higher in value than those that are re-fixed because of the natural wear and tear of material and hair. As long as the clothes are fixed according to the period of the doll it should not matter but the value will certainly be lesser that you should pay for the original.
Also dolls even though made from the same mould will be more expensive than the newer one although the mould is the same. For instance a Barbie doll from the 1950s with a ponytail is more expensive than the bubble cut that is the hairstyle from the mid 60s. Hence old is certainly gold when you are in the doll buying industry.
But at the same time it also depends on the interest of the buyer as he is procuring what he loves. He could buy a haggard doll and get it re-fixed from elsewhere because the doll is of an age he has not had in his collection.
However the general interest lies in dolls that are more cared for, with better complexion and cleaner appearances. The price of which can never be fixed or estimated, it all depends on the interest of the buyers and sellers.
You must have loved dolls when you were young, loved to curl their hair, stitch them new clothes and make them as beautiful as ever. Although your childhood is over you do not mind getting younger just for the dolls. No doubt collecting dolls is your hobby and that of a few people around the world.
From the dolls that are collected, most of them are antique dolls because antique dolls have a charm and charisma that modern dolls lack. They have been dressed like queens and princes, minus the ultra short minis and the macho look that dolls today have.
Of course there is Barbie in all her nuances dressing up like people around the world, so you can pick the Barbie that you like best. If you are looking for the dolls made in the 50s like the Betsy McCall series you can just look the name and the date of manufacture as it is printed on the body of the dolls. Sometimes marketers would put the details on the neck of the doll, so look for them if you are head on for an antique collection.
When you are considering buying a doll, the value will depend on the condition and quality of the doll. Porcelain dolls that were among the first type of dolls made should display eyes in sockets and teeth inside of an open mouth. If a tooth is missing, chances are that the doll has had a fall and the neck or some place in the doll in broken. However you can get it fixed with doll restorers who growing in India.
Dolls with original clothing and hair are higher in value than those that are re-fixed because of the natural wear and tear of material and hair. As long as the clothes are fixed according to the period of the doll it should not matter but the value will certainly be lesser that you should pay for the original.
Also dolls even though made from the same mould will be more expensive than the newer one although the mould is the same. For instance a Barbie doll from the 1950s with a ponytail is more expensive than the bubble cut that is the hairstyle from the mid 60s. Hence old is certainly gold when you are in the doll buying industry.
But at the same time it also depends on the interest of the buyer as he is procuring what he loves. He could buy a haggard doll and get it re-fixed from elsewhere because the doll is of an age he has not had in his collection.
However the general interest lies in dolls that are more cared for, with better complexion and cleaner appearances. The price of which can never be fixed or estimated, it all depends on the interest of the buyers and sellers.
Antique clocks
The value of a clock some think does not go beyond the obvious that it should be tell the time. But to those who appreciate the time-piece can give their all to collect them. The sophisticated chrome watch, leather straps, pink dials is the modern crust that did not exist in the years gone by.
Infact having a watch was so expensive once upon a time that only the elite were privileged to own them. The commoners had to depend on the few locks put up in the city.
Watch collectors look for something that is not common and that is exactly what you find in antique clocks. Each watch was made individually so there are no two watches that look the same. The grandfather clocks were a showpiece that decorated most homes in India. The pendulum goes down in history as a piece of work to remember. Wind the clock and it gets back to work.
The dong bells are another fancy to watch collectors. They would emanate the dong every hour so the people in the house would know what the time is. The sun dial is the most primitive form of a watch that depends on the natural elements like the sun to detect the time. From the sun-dial to grandfather clocks to smaller wall clocks, time pieces have come a long way. The 70s and 80s saw men carrying the pocket watch, which they would elegantly slip out, see the time and flip the lid shut. Mostly made in bronze and silver, some editions were also made in gold. They are priceless possessions, one would love to hoard.
There are a few things you must consider when you are out to buy an antique clock like the period in which it was manufactured. The older, the costlier. Moreover the watch has to look maintained as you do not want it only for time seeking purpose, infact it goes beyond and exhibits the purpose of decoration. Hence the watch too has to look good for value appreciation. Scratches and broken corners reduce its value.
Another factor should include the interesting facet, a regular watch is what everyone has seen, and the uniqueness of the watch will attract the visitors. After all it will be quite a deal you will be spending.
The price will also depend on the interest of the seller and the buyer and also on the market trend. The market trend is noticed to be exactly opposite the housing trend. This is because people spend more in buying a home and not in decorating it and hence the antique shops go into a slump period. As against when people are not buying a home, they buying things to decorate their home.
The other aspect, one could indulge in antiques is the appreciation it enjoys over the years. It could turn out to be a smart investment and an even smarter possession.
To know the actual cost of a piece talk to professional appraisers and check the local newspapers. Do not believe the cost the antique dealer quotes or the seller’s quotes, do you mini-research before you go head-on with the purchase.
Infact having a watch was so expensive once upon a time that only the elite were privileged to own them. The commoners had to depend on the few locks put up in the city.
Watch collectors look for something that is not common and that is exactly what you find in antique clocks. Each watch was made individually so there are no two watches that look the same. The grandfather clocks were a showpiece that decorated most homes in India. The pendulum goes down in history as a piece of work to remember. Wind the clock and it gets back to work.
The dong bells are another fancy to watch collectors. They would emanate the dong every hour so the people in the house would know what the time is. The sun dial is the most primitive form of a watch that depends on the natural elements like the sun to detect the time. From the sun-dial to grandfather clocks to smaller wall clocks, time pieces have come a long way. The 70s and 80s saw men carrying the pocket watch, which they would elegantly slip out, see the time and flip the lid shut. Mostly made in bronze and silver, some editions were also made in gold. They are priceless possessions, one would love to hoard.
There are a few things you must consider when you are out to buy an antique clock like the period in which it was manufactured. The older, the costlier. Moreover the watch has to look maintained as you do not want it only for time seeking purpose, infact it goes beyond and exhibits the purpose of decoration. Hence the watch too has to look good for value appreciation. Scratches and broken corners reduce its value.
Another factor should include the interesting facet, a regular watch is what everyone has seen, and the uniqueness of the watch will attract the visitors. After all it will be quite a deal you will be spending.
The price will also depend on the interest of the seller and the buyer and also on the market trend. The market trend is noticed to be exactly opposite the housing trend. This is because people spend more in buying a home and not in decorating it and hence the antique shops go into a slump period. As against when people are not buying a home, they buying things to decorate their home.
The other aspect, one could indulge in antiques is the appreciation it enjoys over the years. It could turn out to be a smart investment and an even smarter possession.
To know the actual cost of a piece talk to professional appraisers and check the local newspapers. Do not believe the cost the antique dealer quotes or the seller’s quotes, do you mini-research before you go head-on with the purchase.
Antique jewellery
If you love to accessorise yourself with something uncommon, antique jewellery is for you. But you have to love the antique look against the modern look that is sometimes magnifying and sometimes minimalist.
The look too of antique accessories is more olden, it has a tinge of dust and mostly is not very shiny, but do not mistake it for being non-glorious, only those who know the value of it will pick it up and use it.
Grandchildren dislike the jewellery of their grandmother, they may want to dispose it off or pay less heed to it. But a discerned eye will know the value of the jewellery most have left aside.
In India many women have a palate for antique jewellery, especially ladies in their mid thirties to even older. As the young are more trend conscious which has bowled out antique jewellery. However there are few youngsters who have inherited jewellery from their ancestors and hence have an emotional bonding to it and also love it for its beauty. While there are some who have acquired the taste for it and go out to flaunt it.
Traditionally this kind of jewellery was worn on traditional wear like the sari or salwar khameez, but these days one can wear it on western outfits like denim, t-shirts and trendy dresses. It all depends on how you carry yourself.
If you love collecting antique jewellery, be ready to shell out a few dollars more. As they are not many in circulation, the price hike is obvious. So if you bump into an auction and hear the exorbitant prices, do not be surprised.
However if you are a smart buyer you can get a better deal, at places that are less peeped into. The obvious place one goes is the niche dealers, auction houses and exclusive boutiques. For cheaper deals go to garage sales, local sales and house shifting sales. The best place to look up is the newspaper, where people advertise their petty sales to dispose off what they do not want.
If you have a trained eye for the antique you will guess at once what the worth is. But when you do that do not let the buyer see your enthusiasm, else he will hike the price and give it to you at a double rate. So stay calm and buy it with perfect discretion.
If you appreciate mistakes, then you are in the right segment. If you do not, then get the jewellery checked from a dealer before you shell out even a pie. Learn the market; suddenly a seller may hike his price because someone else has done the same. Have patience, the prices will fall to the normal value. Don’t be too eager to own something too expensive, be it a charm bracelet or a pedigree necklace. Keep you cool, your turn to own it will come.
Sometimes antique jewellery turns out to be a good investment too. You hoard it for years and then sell it to an antique aficionado, and searching one is certainly not difficult with the number of antique lovers.
The look too of antique accessories is more olden, it has a tinge of dust and mostly is not very shiny, but do not mistake it for being non-glorious, only those who know the value of it will pick it up and use it.
Grandchildren dislike the jewellery of their grandmother, they may want to dispose it off or pay less heed to it. But a discerned eye will know the value of the jewellery most have left aside.
In India many women have a palate for antique jewellery, especially ladies in their mid thirties to even older. As the young are more trend conscious which has bowled out antique jewellery. However there are few youngsters who have inherited jewellery from their ancestors and hence have an emotional bonding to it and also love it for its beauty. While there are some who have acquired the taste for it and go out to flaunt it.
Traditionally this kind of jewellery was worn on traditional wear like the sari or salwar khameez, but these days one can wear it on western outfits like denim, t-shirts and trendy dresses. It all depends on how you carry yourself.
If you love collecting antique jewellery, be ready to shell out a few dollars more. As they are not many in circulation, the price hike is obvious. So if you bump into an auction and hear the exorbitant prices, do not be surprised.
However if you are a smart buyer you can get a better deal, at places that are less peeped into. The obvious place one goes is the niche dealers, auction houses and exclusive boutiques. For cheaper deals go to garage sales, local sales and house shifting sales. The best place to look up is the newspaper, where people advertise their petty sales to dispose off what they do not want.
If you have a trained eye for the antique you will guess at once what the worth is. But when you do that do not let the buyer see your enthusiasm, else he will hike the price and give it to you at a double rate. So stay calm and buy it with perfect discretion.
If you appreciate mistakes, then you are in the right segment. If you do not, then get the jewellery checked from a dealer before you shell out even a pie. Learn the market; suddenly a seller may hike his price because someone else has done the same. Have patience, the prices will fall to the normal value. Don’t be too eager to own something too expensive, be it a charm bracelet or a pedigree necklace. Keep you cool, your turn to own it will come.
Sometimes antique jewellery turns out to be a good investment too. You hoard it for years and then sell it to an antique aficionado, and searching one is certainly not difficult with the number of antique lovers.
Antique Radio
The radio was an instrument of luxury in the days gone by. As there was no other medium of entertainment than the radio. It also told the dwellers about the happenings outside incase of natural mishaps, like a landslide, storm, heavy showers etc.
So radio grew in fashion and in technology. Hence you have your portable radio that you can move around with these days. But antique radios in India were as big as 3 feet and 4 feet. They were bulkier models pre World War I, which were refined over a period of time.
Some individuals who fancy the radio and the art in which it was made, collect antique radios because each of them add a different panache to their home. Wooden consoles were used expansively in the olden days. They came in all sizes and the wooden look made the home appear even more lavish. This was around the 1930s and 1940s and it was at a cost of around twenty thousand rupees which was a colossal amount at that time. Hence it was only the rich that could afford it.
Another type of the antique radio is the table top radio. They were called so as they could be placed anywhere on the table in the kitchen, bedroom, hall etc. Another type of the radio was the Cathedral style as it had a roof. Tombstone radios were the ones that looked like tombstones. They were more rectangular and not very tall.
With the introduction of plastic, there came plastic radios that were made in bakelite. Soon they became a favourite and are even sourced out by collectors till date. They grew in demand because of its light weight character and the fact that it did not catch fire as against the wooden consoles that easily did. The reason it faded in popularity was that it cracked easily and if slipped and fell down, it was in pieces.
Some antique radio aficionados also collect radios depending on the tubes inside that needed a warm-up time to more than a minute. Now although you hear the music as soon as you switch the button on, in the days of yore only static was heard for a few minutes.
If you are planning to buy an antique radio, make sure of the year it was manufactured. The older the year, the more expensive. However the price can vary even for new ones making it as expensive as the old ones. It all depends if the radio is in working condition or you fancy it so much, you would love it as a decorative item.
These days technology is upgraded within antique radios making them a usable instrument with a look you will get nowhere else.
Radio collectors argue that vintage radios were the best against the new modern ones. Although the technology in the modern players is excellent they do not have any aesthetic value like it did in the years gone by. They just serve the purpose and nothing else. Also antique radio’s were self crafted, that means there were no two alike. But now all the radios look and are the same. Hence antique radio collectors live on to seek what the modern world has rejected.
So radio grew in fashion and in technology. Hence you have your portable radio that you can move around with these days. But antique radios in India were as big as 3 feet and 4 feet. They were bulkier models pre World War I, which were refined over a period of time.
Some individuals who fancy the radio and the art in which it was made, collect antique radios because each of them add a different panache to their home. Wooden consoles were used expansively in the olden days. They came in all sizes and the wooden look made the home appear even more lavish. This was around the 1930s and 1940s and it was at a cost of around twenty thousand rupees which was a colossal amount at that time. Hence it was only the rich that could afford it.
Another type of the antique radio is the table top radio. They were called so as they could be placed anywhere on the table in the kitchen, bedroom, hall etc. Another type of the radio was the Cathedral style as it had a roof. Tombstone radios were the ones that looked like tombstones. They were more rectangular and not very tall.
With the introduction of plastic, there came plastic radios that were made in bakelite. Soon they became a favourite and are even sourced out by collectors till date. They grew in demand because of its light weight character and the fact that it did not catch fire as against the wooden consoles that easily did. The reason it faded in popularity was that it cracked easily and if slipped and fell down, it was in pieces.
Some antique radio aficionados also collect radios depending on the tubes inside that needed a warm-up time to more than a minute. Now although you hear the music as soon as you switch the button on, in the days of yore only static was heard for a few minutes.
If you are planning to buy an antique radio, make sure of the year it was manufactured. The older the year, the more expensive. However the price can vary even for new ones making it as expensive as the old ones. It all depends if the radio is in working condition or you fancy it so much, you would love it as a decorative item.
These days technology is upgraded within antique radios making them a usable instrument with a look you will get nowhere else.
Radio collectors argue that vintage radios were the best against the new modern ones. Although the technology in the modern players is excellent they do not have any aesthetic value like it did in the years gone by. They just serve the purpose and nothing else. Also antique radio’s were self crafted, that means there were no two alike. But now all the radios look and are the same. Hence antique radio collectors live on to seek what the modern world has rejected.
Antique Coins
Coin collection began as a hobby of the elite as they would collect coins as a pastime. Any kind of an old coin when found was treasured with hope that the value of the coin would earn someday.
Soon as millenniums passed away more and more coins came to the disposal of individuals. And the hobby spread far and wide bringing many patrons under the coin collecting umbrella, thus making it the king of hobbies.
For a beginner all you need to have is a keen eye. Learn about the various coins in the market and you do not be fooled easily. There as many counterfeit coins existing as there are authentic ones, hence you have to learn how to distinguish between a true one and a false one.
Start by visiting antique shops, looking up books and meeting people with the same hobby. And of course you need to love history to know which coin is from which era and it served for which purpose.
If you are really interested in coin collecting look up the library, it will give you detailed information of the hobby years ago and its current status. In the eras gone by the hobby was more kingly as only kings were suited to collect coins that were deemed precious. As coins were mostly in gold in the kingdom era, they were extremely precious so the commoner could not even think of a hobby that precious.
But now as gold coins have circulated out of the currency and metal coins are in, it has become easily accessible to everybody and hence spread to millions. Supply of antique coins is constant in the Indian coin market, but you have to be a judicious buyer and critically analyze what you are buying. Look out for marks and specific signs that authentic coins carry. Weight is another important characteristic to check for.
If you find a rare coin, there is always a buyer for it. Search until you seek. If you want to profit out of coin collecting search a buyer who has a pricey collection. He will not mind giving funds as long as the coin is authentic and adds to the show of his coin empire. Profit from coin collecting does exist, all you need is a little patience and constant searching. Go in to streets and coin shops, there is always someone who is looking for what you have. You just need to have patience to find him.
Antique coins are more prized in the current scenario because they were carved and created in a different way. Obviously coins that are decades old will have more importance than the recently circulated ones. Also a history enthusiast will understand more from coins of that era than from anywhere else. Curiosity is the thirst that quenches only with collection of more and more coins.
The ultimate purpose of coin collecting in the earlier days was that the value would increase and give a good return a few years down the line. Well it holds good today too, if you get a coin of importance, the value you can get for it could be quite rewarding. But then again it depends if you are collecting to sell or collecting to keep.
Soon as millenniums passed away more and more coins came to the disposal of individuals. And the hobby spread far and wide bringing many patrons under the coin collecting umbrella, thus making it the king of hobbies.
For a beginner all you need to have is a keen eye. Learn about the various coins in the market and you do not be fooled easily. There as many counterfeit coins existing as there are authentic ones, hence you have to learn how to distinguish between a true one and a false one.
Start by visiting antique shops, looking up books and meeting people with the same hobby. And of course you need to love history to know which coin is from which era and it served for which purpose.
If you are really interested in coin collecting look up the library, it will give you detailed information of the hobby years ago and its current status. In the eras gone by the hobby was more kingly as only kings were suited to collect coins that were deemed precious. As coins were mostly in gold in the kingdom era, they were extremely precious so the commoner could not even think of a hobby that precious.
But now as gold coins have circulated out of the currency and metal coins are in, it has become easily accessible to everybody and hence spread to millions. Supply of antique coins is constant in the Indian coin market, but you have to be a judicious buyer and critically analyze what you are buying. Look out for marks and specific signs that authentic coins carry. Weight is another important characteristic to check for.
If you find a rare coin, there is always a buyer for it. Search until you seek. If you want to profit out of coin collecting search a buyer who has a pricey collection. He will not mind giving funds as long as the coin is authentic and adds to the show of his coin empire. Profit from coin collecting does exist, all you need is a little patience and constant searching. Go in to streets and coin shops, there is always someone who is looking for what you have. You just need to have patience to find him.
Antique coins are more prized in the current scenario because they were carved and created in a different way. Obviously coins that are decades old will have more importance than the recently circulated ones. Also a history enthusiast will understand more from coins of that era than from anywhere else. Curiosity is the thirst that quenches only with collection of more and more coins.
The ultimate purpose of coin collecting in the earlier days was that the value would increase and give a good return a few years down the line. Well it holds good today too, if you get a coin of importance, the value you can get for it could be quite rewarding. But then again it depends if you are collecting to sell or collecting to keep.
Antique books
The passion for collecting books is known as bibliophilia and the individual who undertakes it, is known as bibliophile. Sometimes the craze for collecting books can also be termed as bibliomania but mania does not mean the actually maniacal craze. It means the joy of collecting books.
Collecting not just any books would make you a bibliophile. Books that are rich in literature are mostly the books that are in demand and categorize you as a book lover. Hence it is mostly the craze for antique books that make you a bookman. However the term now bookman refers to a person or organization that publishes, edits and sells books.
Collecting casual books are not enough, one has to yearn to collect valuable books. But what is it that make books valuable. Firstly it is the age of the books. The older the better. The heavier the literature, the better. It was the Duke of Burgundy in France who had the maximum number of books, a total of 600 volumes. Many books were destroyed during the Reformation era and to save the books, few began to collect them. It is from here that the habit of hoarding books was inculcated.
There are more than a million books available. So how do you collect books? It begins by knowing the category of books that you love. It could be literature, western, design, graphic novel, fiction, non-fiction, science etc. In these too there are sub-categories, it could be a particular author or a genre of a field, first editions, comic books or illustrated magazines. You could also collect books based on the paper used. So it could be vellum or parchment.
The price of a book depends on many factors. For instance if there are only a few copies printed or the book is heavily in demand and the condition of the book. Also the price given need not be the same at all times. It will differ from time to time depending on the demand.
The condition of the book is the ultimate price factor. As the book has been handled for years, it has been moved to different locations, stored at various places and the dust that has accumulated on them, spoils them. Books invariably are subject to damage due to sunlight, insects and moisture. Also the acid that is used to make the books leads to brown spots called foxing. Then the pages gradually turn brown, this is called tanning and then ultimately they crumble.
To save ancient books from such natural mishaps they are saved with liquids and the right temperature. Hence you find many cubicles within a museum that houses ancient books.
Visitors are not allowed to touch them or hold them in their hands. They can only leaf through the pages if there are gloves placed within the cubicle that you have to put on and read the manuscripts.
Ancient books in India include the Vedas, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The actual manuscripts are kept safely while copies of the same are made and circulated for easy reading.
Collecting not just any books would make you a bibliophile. Books that are rich in literature are mostly the books that are in demand and categorize you as a book lover. Hence it is mostly the craze for antique books that make you a bookman. However the term now bookman refers to a person or organization that publishes, edits and sells books.
Collecting casual books are not enough, one has to yearn to collect valuable books. But what is it that make books valuable. Firstly it is the age of the books. The older the better. The heavier the literature, the better. It was the Duke of Burgundy in France who had the maximum number of books, a total of 600 volumes. Many books were destroyed during the Reformation era and to save the books, few began to collect them. It is from here that the habit of hoarding books was inculcated.
There are more than a million books available. So how do you collect books? It begins by knowing the category of books that you love. It could be literature, western, design, graphic novel, fiction, non-fiction, science etc. In these too there are sub-categories, it could be a particular author or a genre of a field, first editions, comic books or illustrated magazines. You could also collect books based on the paper used. So it could be vellum or parchment.
The price of a book depends on many factors. For instance if there are only a few copies printed or the book is heavily in demand and the condition of the book. Also the price given need not be the same at all times. It will differ from time to time depending on the demand.
The condition of the book is the ultimate price factor. As the book has been handled for years, it has been moved to different locations, stored at various places and the dust that has accumulated on them, spoils them. Books invariably are subject to damage due to sunlight, insects and moisture. Also the acid that is used to make the books leads to brown spots called foxing. Then the pages gradually turn brown, this is called tanning and then ultimately they crumble.
To save ancient books from such natural mishaps they are saved with liquids and the right temperature. Hence you find many cubicles within a museum that houses ancient books.
Visitors are not allowed to touch them or hold them in their hands. They can only leaf through the pages if there are gloves placed within the cubicle that you have to put on and read the manuscripts.
Ancient books in India include the Vedas, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The actual manuscripts are kept safely while copies of the same are made and circulated for easy reading.
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