Bookselling may seem like a dream job in a movie, but what really goes on behind the counter? Let’s delve into the lesser-known aspects of the fine art of bookselling. I started my journey with books at a young age—19, to be precise. My father, one of the most prominent booksellers on the Balkan peninsula, passed down not just the trade but also his passion for books.

Bookselling in the ’80s was considered by many the golden age of the trait. In the picture is shown an article about the first private antique bookstore in Yugoslavia, Antikvarijat Orfelin in Belgrade.

Growing up, I was surrounded by books of different eras and subjects. During my early adolescence, I didn’t pay much attention to them. However, as I matured, I began to grasp the cultural value books hold. Collecting books is unlike collecting stamps, engravings, or ephemera. It requires something more. Some people start collecting due to their love for history, literature, philosophy (like myself), or their desire to preserve their cultural heritage. Others are simply compulsive collectors. Don’t get me wrong, any reason to start collecting is valid. But being a true collector of books entails something more.

How It All Began…

Initially, when my father introduced me to books, I struggled to understand his passion. It felt like a trade-oriented job. But as I immersed myself in the business, I realized that the “selling” part of “bookselling” is secondary to the essence of the book itself. To sell a book, you must know about it—not just for pricing purposes but also its historical context. I was amazed by the extensive knowledge possessed by the buyers who frequented our shop.

My father could engage in hour-long conversations with each client, matching or surpassing their expertise in their field of interest.

At first, I was thinking: well, he is in the book trade for more than 30 years, of course, he would be as knowledgeable. However, soon I realized that knowledge didn’t come out of thin air and it was actually a product of thorough research. I didn’t have a clue that Gray’s Anatomy was one of the most influential books in the field of medicine, nor did I know that the Jesuit order had almost a million converted in China in the 18^th century, or that Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was the father of rocket science. The Black Wave film movement? Never heard of it.

Prior to my foray into bookselling, I had no inkling about these subjects (and many more). I believed my academic education in philosophy provided me with a comprehensive general knowledge. Studies equipped me to discuss ancient Greek drama, Machiavelli’s statesmanship, infinitesimal calculus, Early Christian Gnosticism, Turing tests, evolution theory, poetry, and various other topics. I thought I had it all covered. However, it was only through my job that I began to research and learn about these subjects, which expanded my overall knowledge. To this day, I am excited to discover what I will learn next and what awaits me.

A complete Ruhm-Belorberter, Triumph Leuchtender Kriegs Helms by Christopf Boetius. Nurnberg, 1688.

The Other Side of the Counter

Now, let’s talk about the book lovers on the other side of the counter. Almost everyone who visits the shop and seeks a particular book is usually more knowledgeable about the topic than I am, which initially intimidated me. Over the years, I learned not to be ashamed of what I didn’t know and to embrace the opportunity to learn as much as I could about various subjects.

It continues to surprise me how much the people who seek books know about their respective interests. To be a true book lover, one must possess knowledge and a sense of responsibility. If you acquire a rare first edition of Hegel’s Science of Logic, for instance, you will not only familiarize yourself with the book inside and out but also delve into its historical context, the author’s relationships with other contemporary writers, and the differences between the first and second editions, and so on.

Being a book lover requires vast knowledge and genuine passion. A bookseller understands this better than buyers can imagine. In addition to being involved in the sale of cultural and historical artifacts, bookselling also entails a deep understanding of the buyer.

Best Job In The World

So, in short, why do I consider bookselling the best job in the world?

First and foremost, it offers the opportunity to learn something new every day. Researching books is no easy task—it involves sifting through countless pages of reference books and online articles, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the subject matter. Yet, this challenge is half the satisfaction. The process of gathering knowledge is a fulfilling aspect of the job.

As a bookseller, one assumes the role of a custodian. When I acquire a book from someone who fails to appreciate its value and regards it merely as “inventory” or “merchandise,” it becomes my responsibility. I strive to find each book a new home, understanding that they are only passing through my possession. It is a privilege to get to know them before they embark on their journey to their next destination. I feel immense joy knowing that they will end up in the hands of someone who genuinely cares. With each exchange, the books find their rightful place, where their historical significance is fully appreciated.

This sense of fulfillment brings me happiness, and I believe it is a sentiment shared by many other booksellers. It is a remarkable feeling to witness a piece of history find its perfect fit, connecting with individuals who share the same care and passion as the bookseller. Such moments are a privilege experienced by only a few.

If you are interested, you can explore our collection here!

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Art Deco

By the mid-1920 various modernistic styles merged into a style called Art Deco. It was named after Arts Décoratifs, from the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris in 1925. It combined modernist styles with fine craftsmanship and rich materials. During its heyday, Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress.

A. M. Cassandre’s “Normandie”, 1939.

Eclectic, combining elements even from opposing styles, its main inspiration was modernism. The slick lines, angular letterforms, and simplified and streamlined shapes. Themes were often speed, power, ocean liners, automobiles, etc. Art Deco spread quickly throughout Europe and to the U.S.

WWII and the aftermath

“Glory to the Red Army” by Leonid Fedorovich Golovanov. This poster can be classified as post-modern.

Once again, the poster is a means of propaganda for recruitment and war. However, this time it had the printed media and radio standing side by side with it.

At the same time, photography took the place of lithography in the visual design of posters. The use of photography in posters became as common as illustration.
During the Second World War radio and posters functioned complementarily. However, after the war, these two became competitors due to their similar functions. Having in mind the increase in television programs, it is easy to explain a decline in poster popularity.

Sachplakat

Switzerland offered the last safe haven for the lithographic poster. The government there heavily promoted the printing industry and poster art. This style was known as Sachplakat or Object Poster Style. It was developed before WWII but only gained popularity after the war.

Herbert Leupin’s advertising poster is a prime example of Object Poster Style

Derived from the Plakatstil and surrealist movement, the focus was on making everyday objects into giant icons. And with good old Swiss precision, the results were often spectacular trompe l’oeil effects.

Consumer and corporate styles

With the baby boom happening in the Western world after WWII, the marketing tactics had to adapt to the new consumer generation. These changes are best recognizable in the new styles of poster art. The styles were named by the authors of “A Brief History of the Poster”- The 50s style (consumer-centric) and the International Typographic Style (corporate-centric).

David Klein’s Fly TWA. We can easily spot the use of grids.

The 50’s style was consumer-oriented and intended for a wide audience. Therefore it was light-hearted, vivid in colors, humorous, almost cartoon-like, and a bit naïve in a way. It was non-offensive and it advertised services as well as the products. The graphic sophistication and eye-catching colors combined with visual puns and irrepressible characters and creatures made it the leading style for product advertising. The most influential poster designers of this style were Herbert Leupin and Donald Brun in Switzerland, Raymond Savignac in France, and Paul Rand in the U.S.

The International Typographic Style or the Swiss style came out of the need for worldwide brand recognition. This is best portrayed through this style’s rational, highly structured, and systematic designs. The name itself illustrates the style’s strong reliance on typographic elements, such as 1) the use of a mathematical grid to provide an overall orderly and unified structure;  2) sans serif typefaces (especially Helvetica, introduced in 1961) in a flush left and ragged right format; 3) black and white photography in place of a drawn illustration.
The style made its debut in the ‘50s in Switzerland and become the predominant graphic style in the world by the ’70s. The leading artists of this style were Muller-Brockmann, Hofmann, Nitsche, Lohse, Ruder, Poretti, Aicher, Bill.

Posters in the ’60s

As opposed to the rational typographic style, the styles of the sixties were more chaotic and revolutionary. This new illustration style borrowed the elements of Surrealism, Pop Art, and Expressionism and was more relaxed and intuitive- therefore, it paved the way for the first wave of the Post-Modernist sensibility.

The most influential schools in the ’60s were Push Pin Studios (a graphic design and illustration studio formed in New York City in 1954) and the Polish school of the poster (in Poland from the ’50s through to the ’80s, which had a heavy influence in surrealism in promoting the State-controlled theatre and cultural organizations). The blooming drug culture enabled a brief but spectacular psychedelic poster craze in the U.S., which recalled the floral excesses of Art Nouveau, the pulsating afterimages of Op-Art, and the bizarre juxtapositions of Surrealism. Meanwhile,  there was a poster movement in France that took inspiration from the old Soviet propaganda posters and cartoon art.

Post-Modernism

Zenit & Avant-garde  in the 20’s – National Museum in Belgrade

The domination of the Swiss style, which spread worldwide rapidly after its genesis, led to a new, sort of an ‘opposing’ style in the 70s and 80s. The movement itself was much wider and it influenced the Fine arts, Literature, Philosophy, and Film-making (amongst others).

This movement is called Post-Modernism. Wolfgang Weingart, a young teacher in Basel experimented with the offset printing process to produce posters that appeared complex and chaotic, playful and spontaneous – all in stark contrast to his elders’ teachings.

His liberation of typography was an important foundation for several new styles and also for the advances in the current computer graphics around the globe. Other groups of the time weren’t as radical but followed the trend nonetheless.

Poster today

Although the poster isn’t as relevant nowadays as it was before, it still manages to find its place in modern society- on the walls of the various buildings, on notice boards, on the walls of the teenager’s rooms, and so on. With technology being easily accessible to a wide variety of people, everybody can be a poster-maker nowadays. In the modern digital world, maybe we should redefine the definition of the poster and expand its grasp onto the digital territory.

Can the poster in its digital pre-print era have all of its previous characteristics except for the physical form?

And also, can various trends on the internet like ‘demotivational posters’ and ‘memes’ be the new step in the poster evolution? Are they posters at all, or just a product of a bunch of people having too much time on their hands?

Illustrations are taken from items in our store.
As well as the International Poster gallery.

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I can’t help but notice that libraries are slowly disappearing. I’m not referring to this change of generation. Blaming youngsters for not having respect for books or reading them would be confusing cause and effect. The fact that people read less and less is not the reason why books and libraries are not appreciated but vice versa. It is because books are not appreciated people don’t go to bookshops and libraries anymore.

 In the past, public libraries were a sort of a meeting point not only for college students but for other people with affinities toward more intellectual activities. I’m not only referring to book clubs that are still kicking even if they suffered a blow from the internet. A good portion of those who would be attendees of book clubs migrated to the internet and now discuss various topics on internet forums. So, this does not sound that bad, but when you think about it, it actually is.

The digitization of books is pushing towards making paperback copies obsolete. In case paperback copies become obsolete one day (I hope it won’t come to that), there will be a need for private libraries. That won’t necessarily imply that there won’t be anybody left to read but that reading will become a less and less popular activity. When it comes to popularity, books have been struggling against every modern medium of information. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The ranks of the book readers experienced major growth during the 20^th century when the medial rate of illiteracy fell to an average of about 20% (varies depending on the country). Industrialization of the printing process led to greater availability of books.

Not even a world war can stop books from being printed!

Books were cheap and available at every corner. Those were the days when reading a book was one of the favorite pastimes. Alas, that period didn’t last long. Technological advancements made sure that books were pushed back from the “entertainment“ industry so to speak. Unlike the appearance of the radio, the silver screen started catching the gaze of book readers. When the movie industry started to rise it took with it a good portion of bibliophiles with it. Because the motion picture and the television were something new, they attracted a good portion of newer generations. By the time the younger generations came, the seventh and the eighth art were predominant.

From The Ninth Gate (1999). From the time when the sixth art was in decline.

Just recently a new art started dominating the entertainment scene. I am talking about the video game industry. Now, in its beginnings, it was not as influential and widespread as it is today. Just during the golden age of arcade video games, this medium gained momentum. The consoles were bulky, but now, eight generations of consoles after, the video game industry has the largest budget of them all. Now, one would think that this is some kind of a natural step for the entertainment industry, but I beg to differ.

During the so-called “video game crash of 1983”, the video game industry started to lose ground. Yet somehow the tide has turned. At the time (but also nowadays) movies were very influential in society. When you take a look back during the ’80 movies with video games as a recurring topic started to appear. Movies like Tron (1982), The Wizard (1989), Nightmares (1983), The Last Starfighter (1984), etc. appeared with an intent to pander to younger audiences.

From TRON (1982). It’s very easy to catch the eye of a young audience with such rad and shiny visuals. Nonetheless, the movie is a must-see for all science fiction fans.

The movies focused on video games and the, at the time, the young audiences embraced them. With this new kind of publicity, the video game industry started to rise again to the point where it has surpassed the movie industry in its budget.

Keeping this in mind, can you name the movies you have seen that are encouraging you to take up a book or have books as the main topic? How many of them did you watch that were centered on the activity of collecting or reading at all? Sure you can name titles like The Ninth Gate (1999), The Best Offer (2013), The Never-ending Story (1984), etc.

From The Best Offer / La Migliore Offerta (2013).  A beautiful collection of paintings. I don’t want to say any further not to spoil the movie for you.

But the fact has it that there are not many of them out there. I can name a few reasons why such movies didn’t make enough impact.
The first is that they were intended for an adult audience. It is easier to make a family or children’s movie about an epic adventure than to talk about how reading or collecting stamps is cool.

Secondly, movie adaptations of books are stealing from the publishing industry. As a movie enthusiast myself I can say that the movie adaptation of The Name of the Rose (1986) was absolutely great but nonetheless, movies are “stealing” the contents of books.

From The Name of the Rose, 1986. Adso’s fairly uneducated remarks were way more credible and in character in the book than in the movie. Apart from that, the movie is a great adaptation.

Agreed, it’s less time-consuming to watch a movie than to read a book.

And the third and the most important reason is that you don’t see libraries in movies. When you think of it, you see libraries less and less in movies the closer they are to the present day. When you look at the movies from the 70s or 80s you can see study rooms in houses that have libraries incorporated in them.

From the movie High Society, 1956. Just look at that wonderful study.

Now back to the issue. Movies and television in a way dictate what is modern, accepted and “in” so to speak. So was the case until the internet showed up, but let’s take it decade by decade. In the previous decades, you could see less and less libraries in movies and on TV. Since the home library was less and less present in the media, it soon got forgotten by the generations that came afterward.

The causes can be various, from social engineering to conflict of interest between the entertaining industries. Nevertheless, the fact is that there are fewer and fewer libraries captured by the camera lens. The multimedia managed to alienate new generations from books. In terms relative to the world of antiques, what does that mean? First of all, as the Romans would say Historia est Magistra Vitae. How does that apply? Well, each antique is a piece of history and the more we know about history, the wiser we are. Maybe not literally but the fact is that knowing more about the subject is preferable to not knowing. With knowing more comes understanding and with that comes a piece of mind and self-enrichment.

Well, books are now something that’s somewhere between exotic and uncommon to the newer generations. Keep that in mind and the fact that you can’t love what you don’t know et voila’ books (especially old books) are going out of style. I wrote also an article about disappearing prints that I can relate to but that’s another topic. While books go out of style so does everything else that’s not on TV.

As I mentioned previously, the internet can be a game-changer but lacks enthusiasm. I strongly believe that it is the duty of us book lovers to make new book lovers. Since the internet is the best way to share information, you have your work cut up for you. It is true that the internet is 90% junk but I believe that if we make an effort we can be heard. For now, we are doing our best to reach out to those who find bibliophile tendencies somewhat worthy of respect and try to get them to start reading actual books.

Scan of the book from actual item in store.
Movie screenshots from the Internet Movie Database.

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What do prints, travel, interior decoration and you have in common? Well, virtually nothing. But say you like to travel, implied you like to experience and explore different cultures. Doesn’t it bother you sometimes to go to a new place only to find that it looks exactly like your local bar?

Planning vs. Spontaneity

I personally like to know a bit more about the place I’m visiting before I go on a trip. This implies researching, planning, learning a few words of the language in case of emergency, etc. I might sound like one of “those” tourists to some wild adventurers out there – the one that’s sticking around in guided tours with white socks underneath sandals, a camera around their neck, and a folded map sticking out of his back pocket.

On the contrary, I believe that is not the proper way to meet and explore a city. The truth is somewhere in the middle (as it usually is). I usually tend to ask someone that I know in the area I’m going to visit to give me some guidelines as to where to go and what to do.  After exploring the area and familiarizing with the history of the place I tend to focus more on the people that inhabit it.

The social variant is half of the travel experience. I tend to avoid places intended for tourists; going a bit out of your way (geographically) to experience the true feel of a people is for me something of a must-do. Why not go out to a pub or restaurant where you don’t have the menu in English? Or go to a cafe where there isn’t the slightest possibility for you to meet someone you know? It might be awkward at first, but it is interesting to observe the local populace in their everyday life. Who knows, you might even chat with someone that you encounter there and gain a lifelong friend?

Designing the Stock Experience

However it turns out, it’s a learning experience. In my travels, I’ve noticed that there is always a certain profile when it comes to cafes and similar places. You have the small “local one” with a random array of items that make it feel home-like. Then the classic pub with a slightly different variety of personal items, probably the owner’s, glued on the walls. The minimalist and modern one without stuff glued on the walls. Then the blandest of them all, the artsy one.

Before I continue, I’d like to point out that I am no expert in interior design. Still, I’m noticing a pattern in the decoration of every establishment in the western world. I would like to say to the dear reader that I’m speaking from my own experience of travel across most of Europe. My point being that wherever you go you will encounter the same variety of the stereotypical array of items. Just tell me how many times you saw the “Chat Noir” poster hanging on the walls of an artsy place?

Here it is, your usual bistro decoration.

Now, you may say that it goes well with the style, but then why do I keep seeing the same things over and over again? I’m not trying to give a critique of contemporary interior design choices, I’m just trying to say that I haven’t seen that often an engraving hanging on the wall of an establishment.

Interior Decoration and Prints

Don’t get me wrong, I also have nothing against posters, I just want to see some variety. The thing with prints is that you can easily find one on any given topic. Say you run a cafe in Paris and you call it “La Seine”*, you can easily decorate it with engravings or antique photos of the river coast. You may decorate it in a more rustic way but, nonetheless, it would be a bit more original.

The first thing that you might say is – yes that does sound like a great idea but it sounds a bit expensive. Again, with some time and effort invested into finding good prices, you can make yourself a very nice collection of original prints with a budget that you yourself set. On the other hand, you can always ask a seller that you know to be on the lookout for such items.

An engraving by C. Reiss showing Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland. It has not much historical value but it’s very decorative by itself.

Be that as it may, you might not need a very rare and expensive engraving if you are looking for something more decorative. Also, keep in mind that when it comes to decorative element of an engraving frames make half of the impression. In most cases, the price of an engraving is the same with and without a frame.  That is if the frame is not from the period. Nevertheless, it’s extremely rare to find 18th-century frames in good condition these days.

When it comes to frames, the various styles of frames allow you to make the prints adequate for almost every establishment. Rustic, pompous, modern, classic, engravings can be all of that. A bold and gold plated wooden frame with a wide passe-partout around it or just two glass surfaces pressed against each other and between them a map with original coloration. Engravings can be a great decoration for every conceivable establishment.

Beautiful lithography of Aquila Aves

Engravings

Now you might ask why am I pressing the matter so much, the reason is the following:

A generation or two ago, people were interested in engravings even outside a museum. Because people knew what they are and that they held some value but most of all, there was interest in them. Today the mass production of posters contributed to the devaluation of visual art in general. This is partially because you have no mentions of prints in movies nor other media and art. It might be a bit pretentious but I will do all that I can to bring history into the spotlight again. I will write about the mysterious world of these pieces of history in the hope that one day there will be more interest about it in this modern world.

That is also one of the reasons I’ve started to write this blog, to get history a step closer to you and to anyone to whom it might concern. Even if this article may not have been what you’ve expected, less informative and a bit more personal than the usual you read here, I wanted to share my thoughts with you in the hopes that engravings will become popular once more!

Images are taken from the items in our store!

* Update – There actually is a cafe with this name  in Paris, which was purely coincidental.

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So, you are interested in collecting antiques or giving a unique gift to somebody you care about. You have your field of interest well defined, and you are ready to make the first move towards entering the world of antiques. The first question that comes to your mind is – where can I get myself an antique? There are a few options that you might consider; we will list in this article the pros and cons of every method.

Auction Houses

Auction houses are where the community of antique buyers gathers. There’ll be more talk on the auction houses in another chapter. For now, we’ll try and give you an idea of what’s happening in these mysterious buildings.

I’d like to debunk some myths about auction houses that you probably believe in. The first thing that comes to mind when these institutions are mentioned is a hall full of billionaires bidding and rising the price of that Van Gog’s painting for a million each bid. Granted, most of the items on auctions tend to be a bit more expensive. However, you can find a lot of cheaper items too, so there is something for everyone.

Up until now, you may have believed that you have to be a multimillionaire and you can’t get in an auction house “just like that”.  These institutions don’t exclusively accept the 1%. All you need to do is go to the house’s website to see the terms of sale. While there are general rules, but please keep in mind that the policies of auction houses vary from house to house. So, take a moment to read the terms and conditions of the sale. Some houses require a deposit to participate, some require membership, while others are free for everyone to participate. Usually, auction houses give you assurances that items for sale are original.

Sold!

Pros:

1. Items posted for sale have strong claims of authenticity and (usually) anti-fraud insurance.
2. You can meet some people that share your interest.
3. Bidding and winning an item is a very interesting and extremely satisfactory experience!

Cons:

1. This is where items are sold for the highest price in respect of all the other acquisition methods.
2. Specialized auctions don’t have a lot of variety and there is a lot of competition.
3. Sales taxes and auction house fees (after the sale) can be very high.
4. Sellers are anonymous and trying to strike a deal with them might be against policy or even illegal, depending on the country and regulations.
5. Auctions are held only a few times a year, depending on the house.

Antique Shops

The first thing that may come to mind when one thinks about antique shops is overpriced old furniture. That’s incorrect, as most antique shops specialize in specific sorts of items. In old bookshops you can (naturally) find books, however, engravings and manuscripts are also common. In art galleries, you can find paintings, graphics, and similar items. Usually, shop owners tend to be connected with other owners that have different sorts of items, so it doesn’t hurt to ask the owner if you’re looking for something in particular. He might find it for you or direct you to someone else that might have what you want. Usually, it takes a degree of knowledge about everything on the market to start a shop, so shopkeepers tend to know many things outside their area of expertise.

Pros:

1. It’s very rare to find a fake in an antique shop, for the reputation of the shop owner is at stake.
2. You connect with other sellers that will do what they can to find the item that you are looking for.

Cons:

1. If abroad, take good care of the customs regulation of the country you are in. You might have bought an item that’s illegal to export
2. without proper paperwork. Ask the owner of the shop about this before purchase!
3. If you want a receipt, you can’t haggle.
4. The more prominent the shop, the more overpriced the items, be warned!

Online Shops

At first, selling antiques online may sound somewhat unsafe and unorthodox. And that’s because there are not too many antique shops online and they tend not to advertise. Now let’s see what kind of sellers are there on the web.

There are two kinds of sellers on the internet – users of platforms like eBay, Amazon, etc., and private sellers. Usually, the latter have their website as an extension of their shops with the same items that are for sale in the shops. The difference is that if you order an item from an online store you have to pay the shipping and handling expenses. In most cases, you will get a receipt along with your item as proof of purchase and ownership. If you don’t get the receipt, don’t be alarmed – that’s done so as to avoid making you pay for sales taxes if the item has to go through customs so you save time and money.

Platforms

Platform users might or might not have a store in the real world, but their rating on the platform is what’s important. Platforms are very safe to use since platform policies protect the buyer. For example, on eBay, the buyer can return the item within 14 days of the delivery and get the money back. The feedback system on the platforms is a good indicator of the store’s quality and trustworthiness and that’s the thing that you always have to keep in mind while purchasing items.

Stores

If you know the seller, you might ask them for a discount. Usually, platform sellers will give you a discount if you pay for the item off the platform. That is against policy and you don’t have the insurance but you might get items cheaper since a large percentage of the sale goes to the platform. Don’t expect platform sellers to give you a receipt, as you have the transaction ID on PayPal or on your bank account record.

While buying from a platform store, please read carefully the item specifics, you don’t want to end up buying a reprint of something thinking it’s the original (even if stated otherwise).

Pros:

1. Platform policies protect the buyer.
2. You can always ask if the seller has more from where that came from.
3. You can buy items not listed for a cheaper price if you know your seller.
4. The seller’s rating is the assurance of trustworthiness.
5. Haggling is an option for certain items.

Cons:

1. Shipping expenses, sales taxes, and customs charges can give you a nasty surprise cost-wise, as these are the so-called “hidden expenses”.
2. Sometimes items can get stuck in transit ie waiting to be cleared through customs.

Reminder:  Sigedon Books and Antiques will never charge the buyer hidden expenses, as price and shipping expenses are clearly stated in the item specifics and there are no additional fees that the buyer has to pay.

Picture 1 taken from http://www.thefactsite.com/

The post Collecting 102 – Where to buy antiques – pros and cons appeared first on Sigedon.

Today we will be talking about the financial aspects of collecting antiques. In future articles, we will talk about how trade works from the seller’s point of view. For now, though, let’s talk about the other side of the table. It’s possible to make some profit from collecting antiques without having to sell them. I’ll do my best to explain how you can achieve this.

The lasting value of limited resource

Two general requirements are necessary to make a business out of collecting. The only thing you need is knowledge and time. Firstly, remember that there is a finite amount of antiques out there in the world. With time their number diminishes and the cause can be natural, or made by men. Be that by the shifting sands in politics that spark wars and revolutions, or the passing of time that unavoidably takes its toll.

Arguably, new antiques are created every day, from the moment an item celebrates its 75^th birthday it becomes an antique. But we are not talking about the 20^th century; we are talking about the good old stuff.

Even if the Bible was (and still is) the most printed book of all time, it is still one of the most common subjects of collections.

As the number of antiques diminishes, their rarity and value increase. Another thing that affects the market is, as in any other business, inflation. One might think that they go at the same rate but that’s not the case. As the world economy gets bigger every day, so does the number of people who can afford antiques. Because of their limited number, antiques should be less reachable for a very good reason.

I am talking about appreciation. For instance, if you win a map at an auction for a five-figure amount, you wouldn’t stash it in a dark corner of a basement. The natural thing to do would be to exhibit it. Before you do, you would also like to take all the necessary precautions so that no harm comes to it. Since every antique is a piece of history, we only borrow it for a certain amount of time. After us, somebody else will own it, with that in mind, it would be kind of us to return it to the state it was leased. The point is that if antiques come cheap, they will not be appreciated for what they are: pieces of culture and history.

How to profit from collecting?

Now back to the main topic, how to do it? How can one make a profit? There are two ways and both involve passion and hard work:

The first is to make a collection around a certain topic and wait for the right moment to sell it. This takes a lot of time. Collectors usually wait from 7 to 15 years and then resell their collection for twice the value. And under “value” I don’t mean price. As currencies devolve, the value of antiques rises more than currencies devolve. Assembling a collection takes time and effort, and you should be able to cash in on that! While you wait for the value of your collection to rise, you can use the time to generate some other income.

This is not the only way to make a profit, though. Since you have something interesting, you should exhibit it. Make a public exhibition of your collection and cash it in. Of course, before you do that, you will need some media attention. For example, a good way to get to it is to lend your collection for the shooting of a movie or TV series.

A lot of mess and hard work but it was worth it!

I did the last one, it was very satisfactory to see my books on the silver screen. There are a lot of creative ways to profit by lending your collection for some events or other happenings of sorts. It’s up to you to grab the right moment to cash in on them. After you’ve popularized your collection, you can write about it. When you illustrate what you’ve done for the culture and history with your collection, you can sell it for more. You can also add that your collection was exhibited and used in the shooting of a movie to add to its historicity.

To conclude, there are a lot of different ways to cash in on your hobby. You just need some time, some knowledge, and a spark of creativity.

Best of luck in cashing in on your collection!

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Last week we talked about some of the Orthodox Church books, some used for service, some for personal use. Today, we’re doing a follow-up on our previous article.

Types of Orthodox Books II

Psalter (Psalter)

The Psalter also known as the Psalms, or Psalms of David is the Old Testament book that contains hymns and poems traditionally ascribed to the Holy Prophet and King David, ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Virtually every aspect of worship—praise, thanksgiving, penitence, intercession—is covered in the Psalter.

One modern commentator, Bp. Demetri, in his foreword to Christ in the Psalms, has described the Psalter as a “golden thread [which runs] through the beautiful garment of Orthodox worship.” Indeed, the Psalter forms the core of each of the services of the Daily Cycle, the Divine Liturgy, and the other sacramental offices of the Church. The Psalter is so prevalent in Orthodox worship that St. John Chrysostom said that wherever one looks in the Church, he finds the Psalter “first, last, and central.”

Euchologion (Slavonic: Trebnik)

The Greek word “ευχολογιον” literally means “book of prayers”. The Slavonic word “Trebnik” literally means book of needs. This type of service book varies widely in contents and arrangements. The most comprehensive edition is The ευχολογιον το μεγα or Great Euchologion contains the prayers of the priest, deacon, and reader for Vespers, Orthros, and the Divine Liturgy; the six remaining sacraments, and other services of blessings (which in the west are often referred to as “sacramentals”).

There are also a variety of more concise editions, that contain only the most commonly done of these services. These texts are often called the Small Euchologion (mikron euchologion) and usually contain the forms for the mysteries (sacraments) other than the Eucharist ordination, and other common services. What distinguishes the services found in the Euchologion is that they are generally services that are not appointed to be done at any given time according to the Church calendar, but are done as the need arises. However, some services are associated with the liturgical calendar, such as the blessing of candles on the Feast of the Presentation, the blessing of Palms on Palm Sunday, etc.

Menaion

The Menaion (Greek: Μηναίον; Slavonic: Минея/Minéya; “of the month”) refers to the annual fixed cycle of services in the Orthodox Church. Commemorations in the Menaion are tied to the day of the calendar year. Since 1921, there have been predominantly two calendars in use within the Orthodox Church: the Julian Calendar and the Revised Julian Calendar. (Few churches use the Gregorian Calendar.) At the current time, there is a thirteen-day difference between the two calendars. This means that those churches that use the New Calendar (Revised Julian) will celebrate the feasts on the fixed cycle thirteen days before those who follow the Old Calendar.

General Menaion

There is another volume called the General Menaion (Slavonic: Минея общая) which contains services for each type of celebration (Apostles, Martyrs, etc.) with blank spaces for the name of the saint being celebrated. When a parish is not able to afford a complete set of menaia (as often happens in mission situations), or if they do not have the texts for a particular saint they wish to commemorate, it is normal to use the General Menaion to fill in for those services which are missing.

Festal Menaion

There is also what is called the Festal Menaion (Slavonic: Минея праздничная) which contains the texts for those Great Feasts of the Lord or the Theotokos which fall on the fixed cycle.

Pentecostarion (Tzvyetnaya Triod)

The Pentecostarion (also known as the Flowery Triodion or Festal Triodion) is the service book of the Orthodox Church that provides the texts for the moveable portions of the divine services from Pascha through the feast of All Saints (the Sunday following Pentecost).

Octoechos (Oktoikh)

Octoechos (from Greek οκτοηχος) can refer either to the eight-tone (or mode) system of Church music or the liturgical book containing the weekly variable texts in each of the eight tones. St. John of Damascus is credited with systemizing the musical forms of the Church. In Greek usage, the Octoechos book is only the Resurrectional material for Sunday services which varies in the eight-week cycle, and thus is also called the Anastasimatarion. The Greek book for all seven days of the weekly material is the Parakletiki. In Slavic usage, the Octoechos (or Oktoich) book includes the material for every day of the week and thus is equivalent to the Greek Parakletiki.

Октоих Осмогласник, Ochteos, printed in Novi Sad, Serbia, 1860.

Prophetologion (Paremijnik)

The Prophetologion (Slavonic: Paremijnik) is a text that contains the Old Testament Lectionary readings appointed at Vespers and other services during the Church year.

Lenten Triodion (Postnaya Triod)

The Lenten Triodion is the service book of the Orthodox Church that provides the texts for the divine services for the pre-Lenten weeks of preparation, Great Lent, and Holy Week.

The Lenten Triodion is the title of a classic and popular English book translated with an extensive and helpful introduction by Metropolitan Kallistos and Mother Mary; it provides many (but not all) of the texts necessary to observe the great fast. In Greek and Slavonic, it is simply called the triodion. It is called the triode because the canons appointed for Matins during this period are composed of three odes each.

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In honor of the Orthodox Easter that’s in a week’s time from now, we’d like to discuss old Orthodox Church books.

Orthodox Books Throughout Eastern Europe

Printed in the late 15^th century, they were of immeasurable importance in the spiritual life of Orthodox Christians. This went along with the early printing and publishing history of Eastern Europe which was predominantly Orthodox. In addition, these books were also most commonly printed in Eastern Europe throughout the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  They were printed in various redactions of Church-Slavonic language as well. These served as a foundation for today’s modern Slavic languages, such as Serbian, Russian, and Ukrainian.

The Cetinje Octoechos (Serbian: Цетињски октоих or Cetinjski oktoih) was printed in 1494 in Cetinje, the capital of the Principality of Zeta (present-day Montenegro). It is the first incunabulum written in the Serbian redaction of Church Slavonic, as well as the first book printed in Cyrillic in Southeast Europe. It was printed in two installments, its first volume contains the hymns to be sung to the first four tones of the Octoechos system of musical modes, and the hymns for the remaining four tones are included in the second volume. Some of the other big Orthodox printing houses that printed in Church-Slavonic are Kiev Pechersk Lavra in and Synodal Printing House in Moscow. Some of the early Cyrillic books were printed in the West, such as in the Vukovic printing house in Venice.

Types of Orthodox Church Books

Following are the names of some of the most common types of Orthodox Church books.

Anthologion (Sbornik)

The Anthologion (άνθολόγιον, plural anthologia) is a liturgical text that tries to encompass as much of the basic liturgical material as possible. An example of this text in Greek is the Synekdemos. A Slavonic example is the Velikij Sbornik.

Велики Зборник (Veliki Zbornik) printed in Novi Sad (Serbia) 1878.

Archieratikon (Chinovnik)

The Archieratikon (Greek: Ἀρχιερατικόν, Slavonic: Chinovnik) is the Book of Rites for hierarchical services of the Orthodox Church that has the same function as the Hieratikon, but is intended for use by bishops performing the services and contains directions for all the peculiarities of hierarchical services. Besides the order of the Vigil and the three liturgies, it contains the orders for the ordination or tonsuring to various ecclesiastical ranks and the order of the consecration of the antimins.

Typikon (Ustav)

The Typikon (Greek: τυπικόν/typikon, pl. τυπικά/typika, lit. “following the order”; Slavonic: ѹставъ/ustav) is a book of directives and rubrics that establish the order of divine services for each day of the year in the Orthodox Christian Church. It assumes the existence of liturgical books that contain the fixed and variable parts of these services. In monastic usage, a monastery typikon monastery includes both the community rules and the rule of prayer. There are a number of major typikon traditions, but there are also many local variations, often codified into an official typikon.

A Greek Typicon from the year 1761.

Epistle Book (Greek: Apostolos; Slavonic: Apostol)

The Apostolos is the liturgical book containing the various Apostolic Readings appointed by the lectionary. An apostolos or epistle is writing directed or sent to a person or group of persons. It is usually a letter, very formal, often didactic, and elegant. The letters from Apostles to Christians in the New Testament are often referred to as epistles.

Gospel Book (Greek: Evangelion; Slavonic:Evangelie)

In the Orthodox Church, the Gospel Book (Greek: Εύαγγέλιον, Evangélion) is a central liturgical item. It is considered to be an icon of Christ, and is venerated in the same manner as an icon. Traditionally, the Orthodox will never cover the Gospel Book in leather. This is due to several reasons. Firstly, it represents corporeal existence prone to decay, while the words of Christ are considered to be life-giving. Secondly, animal skin is also reminiscent of the Fall of Man, when God fashioned garments of skin for Adam and Eve after their disobedience 3:21). The Apostle Paul speaks of Christ being the “New Adam” (1st Corinthians 15:22,47-49), and the Orthodox understand Christ as coming to clothe mankind in the original “garments of light” which Adam and Eve lost in Paradise.

Binding

Traditionally, the Gospel is covered in gold, the earthly element which is best symbolizes the glory of Heaven. If gold in unavailable, the Gospel may be covered in cloth. The Gospel Book rests on the center of the altar table, as the Cross of Christ was planted in the center of the earth. This placement of the Gospel Book also represents the activity of Christ at the Creation (the square Altar representing the created world). The Gospel rests upon the antimension, which remains on the Altar at all times, as Christ will remain with the Church until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

The Divine Liturgy

The Divine Liturgy begins with the priest lifting the Gospel Book high and making the sign of the cross with it over the Altar. The Gospel Book is carried in procession at specific times, accompanied by candles. The most frequent occurrence is during the Divine Liturgy when it is carried in the Little Entrance which precedes the Epistle and Gospel readings. It is also carried in the Crucessions at Pascha and Theophany. After reading from the Gospel, the priest will bless the faithful with it. At Sunday Matins, after the Gospel reading, all come forward to venerate the Gospel Book and receive the blessing of the priest or bishop.

Romanian Evangelion (Evangelie). Evangelions usually had only illustrations depicting the four canonical Gospel writers (Mark, Matthew, Luke and John). It was usual for Evangelions to be more decorated than other service books.

Horologion (Tchasoslov)

The Horologion (Greek: ῾Ωρολόγιον; Church Slavonic: Часocлoвъ, Chasoslov), or Book of Hours, provides the Acolouthia of the Daily Cycle of services (Greek: akolouthies, ἀκολουθίες) as used by the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Into this fixed framework, numerous moveable parts of the services are inserted. The Horologion is primarily a book for the use of the Reader and Cantor. This is distinguished from the Euchologion, which contains the texts used by the Priest and Deacon.

Several varieties of Horologia exist. The most complete is the Great Horologion (Greek: ῾Ωρολόγιον τò μέγα, Horologion to mega; Slavonic: Великий Часословъ, Velikij Chasoslov). It contains the fixed portions of the Daily Cycle of Services, (Vespers, Compline (Great and Small), Midnight Office, Matins, the Hours, the Inter-Hours, Typika, Prayers before Meals). The parts for the Reader and Chanters are given in full, the Priest’s and Deacon’s parts are abbreviated. The Great Horologion will also contain a list of Saints commemorated throughout the year (with their Troparia and Kontakia), selected propers for Sundays, and moveable Feasts (from the Triodion and Pentecostarion), and various Canons and other devotional services.

The Great Horologion is most commonly used in Greek-speaking churches. Various editions of the Horologion are usually shorter, with fixed parts of Daily Office given in their entirety, and other texts much more abbreviated. Meanwhile, other liturgical books feature all of them in full. In addition, such texts often also contain Morning and Evening Prayers, the Order of Preparation for Eucharist, and Prayers to be said after receiving Holy Communion.

Hieratikon (Sluzhebnik)

The Hieratikon (also spelled Ieratikon, also known as the Hierotelestikon and the Liturgikon; Slavonic: Sluzhebnik), the “book of the priest,” is the Book of Rites of the Orthodox Church containing the priest’s prayers for Vespers, Orthros, and Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

These texts usually also include additional sections, such as a the Dismissals for various days of the week and for Great Feasts, Prokeimena, the Menologion, Magnifications (Slavonic: Velichaniye) for feast days, and instructional material which explains what clergy should do in the case of various unexpected occurrences in the services.

A Russian Orthodox Sluzbenik.

Read more on the topic here!

The books shown in the pictures are from our store Sigedon Books and Antiques.

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Continuing our series on collecting antiques and where to find them, our next stop is Izmailovo. During a short trip to Moscow last winter we ventured behind the now long-gone Iron Curtain. What we discovered left us enthralled: a sprawling city that never sleeps. The shops buzzed day and night, with constant activity all around. Imagine a fusion of New York’s energy and a captivating blend of European elegance and Soviet architectural grandeur.

The first thing you need to know about the antique scene in Moscow is that no matter how hard the wind blows, there will always be someone in Izmailovo. Located around 20 min by Metro from the city center, the Izmailovo district is famous for its park. Izmailovski Park is one of the biggest urban parks in the world. Steeped in antiquity, the district carries a storied past, tracing its roots back to the 14th century. However, without delving too deeply into historical intricacies, it was during the 17th century, under the patronage of Tzar Alexis the 1st, that Izmailovo truly flourished. Evolving into a vital hub of culture and commerce, it embraced its destiny as a renowned center of trade.

Russia has been always famous for high-quality porcelain.

From Traditional Trinkets to Collectibles

The marketplace in Izmailovo is the place you are looking for if you are going hunting for antiques. The market has two sections, one with souvenirs (for tourists) and one with antiques and other miscellaneous items. Due to the sheer size of the market, it’s quite hard to navigate through the endless sea of stands. Luckily we had guidance from a good friend of ours.

Timing was key, as it often is. Early mornings offer a treasure trove of Russian traditional items like samovars for tea brewing, orthodox icons, and fine porcelain. You’ll also discover an array of Soviet-era memorabilia, including militaria, newspapers, diplomas, pamphlets, and captivating posters.

One of the few stands specialized in militaria on Izmailovo.

Scouting for Books

Now you might ask yourselves – that’s great, but where are the books? Book dealers are not in plain sight, meaning that you must ask the right people to get to the right stuff. We took a peek at a few shops on the market and we saw some wonderful pre-Soviet era books and paintings. Books from the Imperial era are more decorated and luxurious than later prints. One should not be deceived by appearances though, as a small Soviet-era scientific pamphlet (like the one in the picture) may be worth more than the complete works of a few authors together!

Another thing you can find in this market are the Orthodox books. Menaion, Psalter, Triodon, Trebnik, and other service books are the most printed books in Russia as well as the whole of eastern Europe. We will be talking more on the topic of Orthodox books in another article.

Original propaganda posters as well as early Soviet posters are very valuable and on-demand worldwide.

We want you to understand that Russia has a very strong reading culture, hence nine out of ten people are reading on public transport. This culture has very deep roots and little did you know, Russia is the country with one of the highest rates of college degrees per capita in the world. So Russians love their books, but they love foreign writers as well. First translations of classic works from European literature are revered with high bibliophile value.

Early morning on Izmailovo market.

To conclude, we left Moscow with great new experiences and insights. Not to mention the heavy heart, since we didn’t learn and see more than we did. We can guarantee that this European metropolis will impress even the most cold-hearted of visitors. Izmailovo, in particular, is a must-see both for those interested in collecting antiques as well as those yearning for the authentic Moscow experience.

A rare early work by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the father of Rocket Science

Please note:

We must caution our readers regarding the stringent regulations regarding the export of items from the Russian Federation. It is crucial to familiarize yourself with the latest information on this matter before making any purchases during your stay. The laws are subject to change and we don’t want to mislead you into buying something that may prove difficult or impossible to export.

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Last time we wrote about the art of collecting and equipping yourself with the right tools, literature, and methods you need to know in order to prepare yourself for the vast and mysterious world of antiques. Now we will present one of the places where you can find the items for your collection. Let’s explore “Britanac”, a quaint little square for collecting antiques in the heart of Croatia’s capital.

Some fine items you can find on Britanac

Britanac – Not only for Brits

There’s much to see even for those not planning to become collectors. You may just be a fan of antiques, or a passer-by. In any case, the British Square in Zagreb is a place you really should visit. It is most commonly referred to as Britanac, and is one of the few remaining squares to include an open-air marketplace. The square is located on Ilica Street, just a few blocks west of the main city square, Ban Jelačić Square. A five-minute walk from the very heart of the city takes you into one of the busiest flea markets in Croatia.

The magic happens every Sunday when this marketplace turns into an antique fair. For fifteen years now, Sunday mornings are reserved for sellers of antique books and art objects from The Art Nouveau to the more recent period. You can find various items here, such as decorative items, antique books, and collectibles of both local and international origin.

This market is best known for having items from the period of WWII. Militaria, art deco, propaganda (both communist and fascist), and postcards are the forté of this fair. Before the sunrise, numerous cars and vans arrive at the British Square crammed with various objects out of which the sellers carefully take out their items and decorate the stands.

Scouting for Valuables

When the weather is favorable, taking a stroll through the stands is like taking a walk through history. Bathed in sunlight and full of charming cafés and small restaurants this place allows you to mingle around, satisfy your curiosity and purchase something that catches your eye. Once the stands are set, you can really notice a whole variety of items: decorative items made of glass and crystal, rifles, pistols and sabers, paintings, ancient radios, music records, badges, old coins, etc.

Britanac is a great place for meeting young artists who exhibit their paintings and handicrafts here. To be honest, we didn’t browse through various items that much, as we were there for the books. If you have a keen eye, you could find very nice editions on various subjects: Croatian and Yugoslavian art, politics, history, ethnography, linguistics, dictionaries or, even rare and valuable belletristic editions.

An extremely rare work by Petar Hektorović on fishing that we found on Britanac. Unfortunately it’s a reprint but nonetheless a very beautiful and important book.

Beyond Collecting

Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer customers. However, this means sellers are offering their items for very popular prices. Even if you’re not here to buy anything, you can still enjoy the conversation with sellers, or meet new people who share your interests. Keep in mind that these sellers have various items they are not displaying. So, don’t be shy and ask the sellers if they have something extra to show you. We started talking to a seller of 20th-century art books, and next thing you know, we were talking about 16th-century manuscripts.

The interesting thing about Britanac is that many tourists come to visit this place all by themselves. They are mostly from Japan, South Korea, and Spain, but there are also those from the other parts of Europe. The atmosphere ranges from that of a marketplace, and art gallery, to a book and coffee shop. To sum it up, the experience is plentiful and suits various tastes.   As the day passes by, the visitors are less frequent and the stands empty one by one. As the last sellers leave, the place slowly transforms back into the little green market that usually occupies the British square.

Photo (1) property of foursquare.com
Photo (2) from active Ebay listing on Sigedon.

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