Collecting Modern First Editions
What to Collect
It is useful to decide whether the collection is to be primarily in line with personal
interests or a potential investment or, perhaps, ideally a marriage of the two.
Collectors of Modern Firsts are usually defined as those who collect books within
the duration of the last century, but now more often as those who collect works
of current writers or those of the recent past. Many like to follow the major prizes
when building up a collection, for instance the Man Booker Prize or the Whitbread
Award. The Dublin IMPAC Award is also a highly influential prize. As with all speculative
collecting, be aware that the familiar warnings applied to stocks and shares and
other investment also apply to books. Once you have decided what to collect, try
and buy books in as near perfect condition as possible and store with care.
Identifying a Modern First Edition
Most UK publishers adopt the numbering scheme on the copyright page. A first printing
is usually indicated by the presence of numbers between 10 and 1 (sometimes 9 and
1). If the figure “1” is missing, the book is a second printing and so on. Small
publishers do not always use this system and you will need then to confirm the publication
date and establish that the book is not a reprint from the copyright page. If in
doubt, contact the publisher. Be aware, too, that there are often points of issue
with dustjackets.