Today we’re talking about one of the simplest, but most crucial, lessons: the importance of being nice. While many imagine the rare book dealer as an unhelpful curmudgeon, Ken believes that, not only is it nice to be nice, it’s also good for business. We’ll talk about times when the shop’s friendliness paid off, inadvertently building relationships with mayors, newspaper editors, and the New England mafia—as well as doormen, secretaries, and restaurant staff. Settle in and get comfortable with this convivial new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #174 - Maps of Old Boston
Today in the studio we have a pair of old Boston maps, from 1803 and 1863. Boston is probably built on more man-made land than any other city in North America, so its maps tell a dramatic story of geographical transformation spurred by prosperity, pollution, technological advances, and social change. The first map is from a Boston Directory—like an 1800’s Yellow Pages where you could look up your innkeeper or ropemaker—and depicts a slender peninsula between the Harbor and the Charles River; Washington Street exists already but becomes an island at high tide. Our second map is from an auction catalog selling plots of land in the newly created, or still in progress, Back Bay neighborhood (formerly a bay). One of Boston’s most desirable areas today, Back Bay was built to seclude affluent families from an increasingly crowded and impoverished downtown—essentially creating a miniature suburb in the heart of the city. Listen to learn more about Boston’s history and cartography on this orienting #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #170 - Magazines & Early Cars
Today in the studio we’ve got some beautifully illustrated issues of Collier’s and Harper’s Magazine from the early 1900s. In magazines from this era we start to see the first automobile advertisements pop up, selling hand-crafted and extremely expensive Speedwells or Pope-Hartfords to affluent Gilded-Age readers. After the Model T made driving accessible to the middle class, the car and its infrastructure would reshape American life, but at this time there were few gas stations, no roadside assistance programs, and not so many paved roads. Hop in for a tour of vintage car-culture on this speedy new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #163 - The New View Boston
Set to open this summer (2023), View Boston is a new three-story observation deck at the top of the Prudential Tower. The venue will feature dining options, an open-air roof deck, and an immersive theater showcasing some of Boston’s most iconic locations—including your favorite secondhand book shop. We’re honored to be included, and to play our small part in the unique and character-rich life of this historic city, especially in a time of increasing cultural homogenization across the US. Listen to learn about our other favorite local spots on an elevated new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #143 - Home Staging
If you’re getting ready to sell a house, you may already know about painting the walls eggshell white and popping a tray of cookies into the oven, but have you considered paring down your library? Home buyers tend to be dreamy and fickle: something as innocuous as a Harry Potter hardcover collection in the living room can prevent them from envisioning a happy future there. On the other hand, desolate shelves are also depressing; it’s best to convey the idea of books without getting too specific. We’ll talk about how the Brattle can help with your home staging journey, as well as the unexpected connections between the real estate market and the secondhand book business, on this moving new #brattlecast.