The British Studio Potters Marks by Eric Yates - Owen & Robert Fournier is the best bible of potters marks and a must for collectors of the eclectic kind. The latest revised and updated edition published in 2005 has many new entries and latest studio addresses etc. This 700 page  book has over 4750 marks of British studio potters are arranged in alphabetical order and is very easy to use. If you are going to focus on a handful of potters there is no need to invest this book as you will soon learn the marks of the potters you have chosen but if you are going to pick up pots at car boot sales or charity shops it’s a must as most sellers won’t be able to tell you the name of the potter and frequently give out the wrong information. Don’t believe those who claim that ‘its valuable because its hand-made.’  Always check for yourself. Auction houses, galleries and shops selling contemporary ceramics should know better! Ebay sellers vary. You can buy this book on ebay or abe books for under £30.00. Try to get the latest edition. For those starting a collection more general reading matter is advisable so you can learn to distinguish the manufacturing technique, the different clays, glazes and firing processes.  

The Encyclopedia of Pottery Techniques by Peter Cosentino will give you a broad introduction to the basic techniques. You might consider going on a course even if you don’t feel you will make a good potter. You will gain some valuable understanding that will help you select the pots for your collection. As the most important factor is your personal visual pleasure in choosing a pot, familiarising yourself with the range of forms and visual language used by contemporary potters as well as old favourites. Reading good books will help enhance your judgement. 

The series ‘A Lark Ceramic Book’ are affordable and demonstrate clearly the range of expression a form like a bowl or teapot can have as well as the range of surface decoration and treatments. Each page has a good quality photograph with the dimensions of the pot, details of the technique/s used to create the pot and often information on glazing and firing. There are also quotes directly from the potters which can be enlightening. Of course you nee to see and feel a pot to have a full appreciation of these details but without the knowledge your appreciation of the pot can be limited. Not all galleries and shops who sell contemporary ceramics provide information beyond the price, size and type of pot. For beginners, do not worry about the cone numbers and firing temperatures. These are of interest to those experienced collectors and potters. The point about recommending this series is that you can see 500 Bowls or 500 teapots in a glance and discover what your own taste is out of a wide range of styles. This series also includes potters from around the world giving a truly international range of ceramics. Thanks to ebay it is perfectly feasible to collect pots form a wide range of countries. World Ceramics could make a very interesting theme for a collection. 

500 Bowls: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design500 Pitchers: Contemporary Expressions of a Classic Form500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility and Grace500 Plates & Chargers: Innovative Expressions of Function and Style500 Tiles: An Inspiring Collection of International Work500 Animals in Clay: Contemporary Expressions of the Animal Form500 Ceramic SculpturesAll under £12.00 courtesy of Amazon As a general introduction to contemporary British studio pottery I’ve chosen the Phaidon ‘Twentieth Century British Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection’ by J.V.G. Mallet. My reason for chosing this is that you can read the book as a preparation to making a visit to the V&A. Seeing the pots having done some background reading will help you assess and enjoy them in more detail. Making some notes and then reading the book again may also help you gain more appreciation of both techniques and aesthetics.