ABC for Book Collectors

Mercury Books, London, third edition, 1961. Illustrated laminated wrappers, 8vo,. 208 pp. This first paperback edition of Carter's classic work has a photograph on the front cover with various features of books identified and keyed to a table on the rear cover. Of the first edition of this book Wilmarth Lewis wrote in The Book Collector, 'It is a delight - clear, accurate and witty. ABC books are not meant to be read straight through, but I have gone from Abbreviations to Yellow-back without skipping and been instructed and entertained on every page. It is perhaps unwise to pronounce a book 'a classic' on its publication, but if ever that inflated word is to be so risked it may be of the book under review. This is not only because its author has achieved what he set out to do with brilliant success, but because he is himself in such large measure responsible for the tone and temper of present-day book collecting.. .We shall, fortunately, never get to the XYZ of book collecting, and one reason for that is the integrity, imagination, learning, and gaiety of bookmen like John Carter.' Wrappers slightly rubbed and faded, otherwise Good.