Never before has this mysterious area had such a description, as true and detailed, so fascinating and exciting. Author of the book , one of the leading Russian experts in the field of antique books and manuscripts , candidly reveals the secrets of the book-gathering world and the antique trade, Learn to understand old books and engravings , pays special attention to the most serious problem of the modern antique market - counterfeits of books and autographs and their recognition This book will become a table for collectors and antiques, will be read with interest not only by historians and philologists, but even by criminologists, and will prove fascinating non-fiction for all lovers of old books. Pyotr Druzhinin is a major collector, a professional historian, a senior researcher at the Russian Language Institute .. In. In. Grape RAS .