How to tell if you have a first edition at home
Helen Ashby · 12 September · 6-minute read
The copyright page, the price on the jacket and one small number. What to look for before Grandma's books go for recycling.
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6 min read 12 Sep The copyright page, the price on the jacket and one small number. What to look for before you throw out Grandma's books.
Three Pillars Books writes about books · a new piece every month
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24 articles
Collecting · Book care · Estates
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I write about the books that come our wayI've been buying book collections for twenty years, and they still surprise me. Here I write down what I've learnt, so you know it too. Helen
How to tell if you have a first edition at home
12 September · 6-minute read
Why old books smell nice, and when they don't
Vanilla, grass or mould? Your nose tells you more about a book than you'd expect.
28 August · 4 minutes
What to do with your parents' books
What's valuable, what the library will gladly take and what really goes for recycling.
17 July · 7 minutes
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No. 24
We write about books
September 2026
Collecting
How to tell if you have a first edition at home
The copyright page, the price on the jacket and one small number. What to look for before Grandma's books go for recycling.
Why old books smell nice, and when they don't
Vanilla, grass or mould. What your nose tells you about a book's condition.
What to do with your parents' books
What's valuable, what the library will take and what really goes for recycling.
“A book without its jacket loses half its value. A jacket without its book has none.”from the article on first editions
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All Collecting Book care Estates
6 minSpotting a first edition
The copyright page, the price on the jacket and one small number.
4 minWhy old books smell nice
Vanilla, grass or mould? Your nose knows a lot.
7 minWhat to do with your parents' books
What's valuable and what really goes for recycling.
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New article · 6-minute read
How to tell if you have a first edition at home
The copyright page, the price on the jacket and one small number.
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Three Pillars Books · articles
We write about books
12 Sep · 6-minute read
How to tell if you have a first edition at home
The copyright page, the price on the jacket and one small number. What to look for before Grandma's books go for recycling.
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