GOOD books are priceless and the rest aren't worth bothering with. I have both gun and automobile books that cost $75 to $100+and think they are bargains. To me Rowe's book on The American Percussion Schuetzen Rifle is a treasure of color photography as is the Automobile Quarterly's spinoff called "E.L.Cord,his cars and is empire".This is a $300 limited edition about a wheeler/dealer,capitalist that believed in the spectacular and when coupled with FREE enterprise, we have three of America's greatest cars because of his ideas.
The acquisition of books depends on the level of interest in any given subject.Mine go beyond guns to fine cars,big steam locomotives,pre 1940 aircraft,especially sea planes and amphibians. To me,variety IS the spice of life.
Bob Roller