How to Distinguish Rare Books From Hard-to-find Books
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Home Family -> subcategory Hobbies.
How to Distinguish Rare Books from Hard-to-Find Books
Overview
Finding a rare book can indeed be a challenge, but you’d expect it to be, right? Hard-to-find books are often perceived as rare, even in the age of the internet. Here's a closer look at how to differentiate between the two.
Understanding Rare and Hard-to-Find Books
A Glimpse into the Past
In the 1980s, Mr. Wills (an alias) ran an antiquarian bookshop in a high-end mall in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Although he was a quirky and irritable Englishman, the quality of his books was unparalleled. You could tell immediately that these were rare books.
For instance, there was an illustrated account of two Dutch explorers, Bergh and Schrijver, who ventured into what is now South Africa in the 17th century. At that time, the area was sparsely populated by the Khoi and Khoisan, as Bantu-speaking people and Europeans had not yet arrived en masse.
Dr. E.E. Mossop translated their journals in 1931, producing "Journals of the Expeditions of the Honourable Ensign Olof Bergh (1682-1683) and the Ensign Isaq Schrijver (1689)." These books are considered rare Africana but occasionally appear on the market.
Mr. Wills once showed me this treasured book, explaining its rarity without allowing me to touch it. To me, rare books were hand-scribed Byzantine tomes, Gutenberg Press editions, and self-published Victorian works.
Shifting Perspectives
When we opened our bookshop in the countryside near where Schrijver explored, I thought I knew what rare books were. Then, Mr. Besant (another alias) came in asking for "A Colossus of Roads" by Pat Storrar and Gnther Komnick, published in 1984 by the construction firm Murray & Roberts and Concor.
The book chronicles road passes built by visionary Thomas Bain (1830-1893) through the Great Rift mountains. His work mirrored the explorers, but instead of exploring, Bain created lasting pathways through mountain passes.
Mr. Besant had been searching for this book for some time. Confidently, I assured him it would be easy to locate through the SA Bookdealers Association (SABDA) and online platforms like aBillionbooks. However, it took five months to find a copy.
When I informed Mr. Besant, he was frustrated. "I thought you said it wouldn’t take long!" he complained.
"Well, it is a hard-to-find book," I replied.
Why didn’t I call it rare? It felt sacrilegious to place it alongside the venerable books in Mr. Wills’ shop.
Defining the Terms
The term "rare" carries a certain reverence, often reserved for books over a hundred years old. "Hard-to-find" might refer to newer books that were poorly published or so beloved that owners are reluctant to sell them.
In truth, the distinction blurs. Online bookstores make obscure and elusive books more accessible. Now, I use the terms interchangeably.
Conclusion
Indeed, finding a rare book is difficult?"but isn’t that expected? Similarly, hard-to-find books live up to their name. Ultimately, the difference may not matter as much as we think. Consider it for yourself and decide.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: How to Distinguish Rare Books From Hard-to-find Books.
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