I love antiquarian books. Not only do they physically last well for posterity, they also were made beautifully (e.g. with golden engraving, decoration, etc.). Books used to be a testament of things valued.
I’m ecstatic to own an antiquarian copy of A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females: Being a Series of Letters from a Brother to a Younger Sister by Harvey Newcomb published in 1851 and in excellent condition. One of the joys of owning an antiquarian book is the surprise of finding treasures tucked in the pages. For instance, I’ve found an old note written in beautiful penmanship, as well as very old leaves inserted between pages. Of course, I like to imagine they’ve actually survived from back in 1800’s! 🙂