Classical and rare books are a delight to read and own in their own right

Classical and rare books are a delight to read and own in their own right; the smell of a leather binding is one of the big draws for a bibliophile. However, for many it is perhaps the thought of the many people who have previously read the volume or work which they hold in their hands and a wonder of how many times the pages have been leafed through and of course by whom. Could it have been someone famous, could the book have resided in a private collection and hardly seen the light of day, or maybe it was a singular first edition given to the author?
The history of books is fascinating; to own one or more is truly a privilege.