Entering is easy – simply write a short essay about your collection and why you love books. The person who best explains why they are passionate about collecting will win. AbeBooks.com will publish the top essays online in a special collector’s section so your passion will be shared with the world.
This contest is open to anyone who collects books at any level. We won’t be simply handing the prize to a millionaire with deep pockets who can buy any book they wish – we want to hear from everyday book collectors. You could have 20,000 books or 200 books; you could collect modern firsts or books about butterflies. Each entry will be judged by AbeBooks’ Richard Davies and Scott Brown, editor of Fine Books & Collections magazine, on originality and focus; the collection’s monetary value is not part of the selection criteria.
Many of the world’s finest rare booksellers sell through AbeBooks and several offer appraisals as part of their business. Your collection could be valued by a bookseller like Allan Stypeck of Second Story Books from Washington DC, or Bob Topp of the Hermitage Bookshop in Denver, or James P. Bixler of Spirit Dancer Rare Books in New Mexico.
The contest closes on May 1, 2008, and is open to residents of Canada and the United States – good luck! Click here for the rules and regulations. There is also a Win a Bookseller for a Day contest for UK residents.
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 If you are looking for a bit of inspiration before putting your fingers to the keyboard, here is a profile of collector Ryan Roth that appeared in the How I Got Started section of Fine Books & Collections magazine.
"My book collecting can be summed up as the three R's: Readin', Ritin' and 'Rithmetic, meaning books about books, handwriting, and mathematics. I also collect prints, where I'm drawn to the dark and whimsical.
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I began collecting old math textbooks as a math major at Brown University. The bookish culture there definitely nurtured my interest in rare books. The library staff is very friendly and welcoming of students using special collections.
During my sophomore year I began thinking seriously about a career in books. Brown granted me a fellowship to explore the possibility.
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