This book sets out to show that there are few pastimes as fascinating, enjoyable and rewarding for the enthusiast of modest means as collecting books. It explains plainly the often obscure terminology used in describing books as well as showing the collector how to detect a 'first edition', distinguish between 'original boards' and 'contemporary tree-calf' and collate his books to check for completeness. A concise history of printing in the West, with particular reference to printing in England from Caxton to Morris, is followed by a list of suggested subjects for the collector with limited funds, and a useful checklist for further study.