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Obadiah Baird deals in horror books

With our aim to prove that anyone can be a collector, we sit down with Obadiah Baird to learn about dealing & collecting horror, old and new.

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Video Companion
Everyone's a collector: Obadiah Baird

My name is Obadiah Baird, one of the owners of The Book Bin, and I specialise in rare and collectible science fiction, fantasy, and horror. For almost fifteen years I have spoken to new collectors at book fairs and in our rare book room, and they often ask me for my thoughts on how to get started collecting genre fiction.

My first piece of advice is to collect what you read and what you love. Many new collectors are intimidated, especially at book fairs, and feel overwhelmed. Choosing what to collect doesn’t have to be intimidating and can be very similar to choosing what to read. If you collect based on your personal taste, you will end up with a book collection that you love. If you collect what you read and love, you will naturally be more knowledgeable about your collection and more interested in learning about and growing with your collection. It is a small leap from loving the books that you read to collecting rare and special editions of the books that you love.

Browse horror collectibles at every price point

Another concern that new collectors often have is with the authenticity of the books that they buy. For new collectors, the choice of who you buy from is as important as what to buy. I recommend meeting local booksellers and attending antiquarian book fairs to build personal relationships with booksellers who specialise in what you collect. It can be harder online to tell who you are buying from, and how knowledgeable they are about what they are selling. Fortunately, if you look for members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), or The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) dealers overseas, you can buy with confidence knowing that we are held to the highest standards by our trade organisations. If you have any concerns over the authenticity of an item, you should always feel comfortable asking questions and any reputable dealer should be willing to answer those questions.

I’m also often asked “What makes a book collectible?” In a broad sense, the answer is the conjunction of rarity and desirability. These are the main factors that influence value and, if you view your book collection as an investment, these are the two most important factors. For most collectors, however, those factors are also balanced by personal attachment and emotional investment. Just as every book tells a story, every book in your collection has a story to tell about your relationship with it. I have always found that if I collect books that I value personally, I find them more fulfilling to have in my collection and in the long run these books are often the ones that gain the most as investments.

I am very lucky to be able to specialise in selling the genres that I read, collect, and love, and there is nothing I enjoy more than interacting with fellow readers and collectors of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. In my experience, ABAA booksellers are passionate about their work and can be counted on to help you on your book collecting journey. Whether at a book fair or online, we love to interact with passionate collectors.

Looking for a crash course to start your own collection? Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) President Alexander Akin shares the guidance and tips to get started.

Meet the other dealers & collector

Lisbet is an Oakland, California-based archivist, collector, and curator. Her archives and collections focus on late 20th century African Americana.
Rebecca is the co-founder of Type Punch Matrix, a rare book firm in the Washington, D.C. area selling a mixture of beloved classics and innovative texts from throughout print history.
Walter specialises in the history of film, television, and theatre, and has handled many important and desirable pieces through his storefront, Walter Reuben, Inc.

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In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), join us as we embark on a journey to re-define the art of book collecting, and help everyone see themselves as a collector.
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