ANTIQUE BOOKS | MANUSCRIPTS | ART

First Edition: The term first edition denotes the first official publication of a completed work. While the most exacting bibliophiles reserve this designation for copies printed on deluxe paper, often numbered, it is customary to distinguish between these issues using the terms first edition, deluxe issue and first edition, ordinary issue.

Pre-Original Edition: A first edition may be preceded by a pre-original edition, that is, a partial or complete publication in a periodical. In the 19th century, these serial publications constituted the main source of income for writers, before copyright protections became widespread. Valued by bibliophiles, pre-original editions remain relatively uncommon in collections, despite the significance of these early versions of major works, which were often revised for publication in volume.

Pirate Edition: An unauthorised publication, known as a pirate edition, may also appear before what is recognised as the “true first edition”. Unscrupulous publishers sometimes anticipated the official publisher by illegally printing the first edition of a work based on the pre-originals. Often produced in France neighbouring countries such as Belgium or the Netherlands, these editions are not considered first editions despite their chronological precedence, and are generally far less valuable than the genuine first editions. Pirate editions should not be confused with counterfeit editions, which appear after the first edition and attempt to reproduce it exactly, including the publisher’s name, and are distinguished by the errors of the counterfeiter. Both pirate and counterfeit editions, however, are also collected, either because of the rarity of the original or for their historical significance in the work’s reception.

Collected and Separated First Editions: A further distinction should be made between a collected first edition and a separated first edition. Short texts and stories that later became famous were sometimes first published in a collection (collected first edition), before being issued individually (separated first edition). Both editions may be considered desirable by collectors.

Edition-Originale.com: Of the 30,000 works presented on Edition-Originale.com, over 27,000 are first editions or original autograph manuscripts. The remaining works are no less valuable: these include editions illustrated by major artists, revised versions by the author, or books with bibliophilic or historical features that make them unique. In addition to first editions, many other valuable early books are therefore offered on Edition-Originale.com.

 There are three accepted meanings of the term antique book:

The broadest definition applies to any second-hand book. Commonly used by newcomers, this term requires some nuance. To distinguish these from new publications, the expression used book is more appropriate.

A much narrower definition restricts antique books to works printed between 1450 - the approximate date of the invention of printing - and the 1820s, before the widespread introduction of wood-pulp paper and the industrialisation of its manufacture. This major development profoundly changed the publishing landscape, and books printed from 1820 onwards are thus considered modern books. However, this distinction between antique and modern books is generally used only in bibliographical or professional contexts.

For the bookseller and collector, age is of little importance: the term antique book may refer equally to an incunable - printed in the 15th century - or to a first edition by the most recent Nobel Prize-winning author. Included under this designation are all first editions, signed copies, deluxe issues, books of distinguished provenance, and any copy that maintains a symbolic or historical relationship with the work it carries.

Despite its name, an antique book does not denote the age of the physical object, but rather its contribution to cultural heritage.

Read our article on the profession of rare bookselling to discover all the subtleties of this expression and open the door to another history of the Book.

Learn more about antique books

  For over twenty years, Edition-Originale, the e-commerce platform of Le Feu Follet bookshop, has offered collectors, bibliophiles, and enthusiasts of rare and antique books exceptional copies: first editions, deluxe issues, finely bound volumes, and author-signed works, as well as original prints and drawings, and autograph manuscripts by some of the greatest writers, artists, scientists, and political figures.

Our specialist bookshop, devoted to rare books, autographs, and works of art, carefully selects first editions and precious copies of major or exceptionally rare works in literature, science, the arts, and spirituality, together with authentic, certified letters and manuscripts by the greatest authors from the 15th to the 21st century.

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Or let yourself be guided by the original Selections curated by our specialists, shaped by inspiration and the pleasures of the moment, to accompany your search for the ideal work: Jules Verne at Hetzel, Inscribed Books to Offer as Gifts, Romantic Bindings, Affordable Gifts, The Unfindable, Fifty Exceptional Pieces, Victor Hugo: Autograph Inscriptions and Letters, Nobel Prize Winners, Science Fiction & Speculative Literature, Hoaxes & Curiosities, The Conquest of the Stars…

Whether you are a seasoned bibliophile, a demanding specialist, or a curious newcomer, you can locate precisely what you are looking for thanks to our filters and truly advanced Search tool: author, title, publisher, place of publication, century, genre or nationality of the author, language, binder, deluxe paper, subject, and more. Because no two readers are alike, we have created almost as many search possibilities as there are forms of bibliophily (or poems in the works of Raymond Queneau).

 Whether you are seeking a rare book as a gift or an exceptional piece for your collection, Edition-Originale places its expertise at your disposal. Browse our online catalogue at Edition-Originale.com, or contact us for a bespoke search tailored to your interests.

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