It’s the first book ever printed, and still the most commonly printed book in the world: today we’re talking about the Bible. Because there are so many copies out there, older Bibles command a wide range of prices—from nicely bound Victorian volumes with mostly sentimental value to the famous Gutenberg Bible, a single page of which can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are also pre-printing press Bibles, worth millions but historically priceless, as well as copies that collectors want because they belonged to famous figures like JFK or Elvis. We’ll even talk about where old Bibles go to retire (because nobody wants to just throw them out).
Brattlecast #175 - The A. Lincoln Story
In today’s episode we’re talking about past appraisal customers who ended up being dramatically, confidently, and sometimes abrasively wrong about their signed books. Anyone can look at an inscribed title page and get excited—you want to believe that your book’s former owner was that A. Lincoln, and not just a Lincoln. This is why booksellers and appraisers have to be cautious, do their research, and consult with colleagues, especially when it comes to big, thrilling items. Occasionally your appraisee’s belief in their impossible inscription will persist in the face of pretty compelling evidence—that the signed book in question was printed decades after the death of United States President Abraham Lincoln, for example—and they’ll storm out or hang up on you, hopefully to seek a second opinion. Learn more about the shop’s least likely finds on this farcical new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #172 - Emotional Attachments
What’s the hardest thing about buying used books? For Ken, it’s not coming to a monetary agreement with the seller, or even moving a large collection—it’s the sentimental bonds that readers form with their libraries. In today’s episode we talk about emotional factors that come up when we look at books: family disputes, estate dramas, and people who, deep in their hearts, aren’t ready to part with the books they’re trying to sell us. Plus, we lighten the mood with a story about Somerset Maugham’s bad friend. Listen for a lesson in bookseller psychology on this priceless #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #171 - Edward Rowe Snow
In today’s episode we talk about Edward Rowe Snow, friend of the shop, local character, and author of more than 40 books on coastal New England. A natural storyteller, Snow wrote about shipwrecks, ghosts, and pirates in a lively, anecdotal tone that matched his gregarious personality. He signed his works with charming nautical sketches, joking that it was rarer to find an unsigned copy. In addition to his literary accomplishments, he served a long career as “The Flying Santa,” annually hiring a twin-engine plane from which he airdropped bundles of simple Christmas gifts—including Brattle Bookshop books—to isolated lighthouse keepers and their families. Join us for a seasonal #brattlecast on New England legends, and a legacy of giving that continues to this day.
Brattlecast #169 - Ken's Favorite Books (audio fixed)
In today’s episode we’re answering a question from a listener: what are Ken’s favorite books? Some people enjoy novels, but Ken is partial to handwritten historical documents, or a nice illuminated manuscript woven from silk. Then there are the two-for-ones: Spalding’s Baseball Guide, inscribed by Spalding himself to fellow Red Stockings player George Wright, a photo inscribed by Billie Holiday to Louis Armstrong, and a copy of The Great Gatsby inscribed by F. Scott Fitzgerald to T.S. Eliot. Sometimes the best book is the one that elicits the best response—the one that thrills a customer, puts a student in tangible touch with the past, or becomes a cherished family tradition. If you’re in the Boston area, visit the shop to find your favorite—or to hear more about Ken’s.