/lit/ - Literature

What's /lit/s view on buying old book that look nice but you have no intention of ever reading? Found a nice-looking book the other day in my local oxfam, early 20th century, multicoloured leather spine and cover. However it's an outdated scientific book about the deep ocean that I know I'll never read. Only costs £4 so I'm tempted to go back and buy it. Thoughts?

Also, my fairly plebian collection.

Considering every single sci-fi thread is full of people suggesting Lem, I'm always surprised to never see him in these threads. In fact, I very really see sci-fi books in these threads. Why is that? People with sci-fi shelves thinking they'll be judged and called plebs? Or do sci-fi fans prefer e-readers?