It could be the case that should you be an antiquarian book collector you'd have to go hours on hours trawling thru dusty book shops to find the rare out of print books that you were searching for. Today, just about most things you are looking for can be discovered without effort on-line. Perhaps a little of the mystery has been lost, but for folk who do not have the time or the money to track down the antique rare books they want in person, then online browsing is the perfect choice. Bearing in mind the great recognition of antique rare books and antiquarian books online, there are several of options for buying them. You might try to find antiquarian books on popular online auction sites like eBay, purchasing them. you may utilize an internet site with expertize in rare out of print books. The advantage of buying antiquarian books from auction uBid, is that you may find it easier to get a fair deal. However, there will also be a smaller selection of antique rare books on sale, and you'll have to hang about for the auction to end before you can buy them. Should you do go down this route, then read the seller's feedback to make certain they're credible. Otherwise you may discover you do not get exactly what you are seeking. If you purchase rare out of print books from an antiquarian books website then you want to be able to check the listings to make sure you're getting exactly what you're buying. At the start ensure that you're getting the edition you would like. Usually the first editions are the most sought after, but there may be other editions that could possibly have something special to do with them such as photographs, or a novel binding. There are other indications which should inform you about the condition of the antique rare book. Here is a very good list of useful terms to help you: aeg - All Edges Gilt. Usually the page edges would be gilded to prevent browning. Casebound - A book which has a hardcover. Clothbound - A book with a cloth cover. Dust Jacket/Cover/Wrapper - The paper covering the boards of a hardback book. Embossing - Some books feature embossed decorations or illustrations. Ex Library (ex-lib) - A book been in a library and has stickers or markings. Less valuable. Facsimile - A book which precisely reproduces an earlier or original edition. Foxed - Some discoloration of the pages of the book, very often in the form of spots that are brownish in color. Frontispiece - illustration opposite the title page. Gutter - White space between two pages opposite each other. IP - In print. OOP - Out of print. Shaken - The binding has come loose. Softcover - Paperback. teg - Top Edge Gilt. When you look for antique rare books, you should also keep an eye open for the condition indicators: F/VG - Fine book, very good jacket. F - Fine, Like New VG - Very Good G -Good FR - Fair P - Poor Now with all this info about rare out of print books, you can commence shopping for antiquarian books with confidence that you can obtain a good acquisition.