As a secondhand book shop, the thing that really drives our business isn’t selling books—it’s buying them. That’s why we venture out almost every day—to houses, libraries, and storage units throughout New England—searching for good books and the occasional treasure. In today’s episode, we’re taking a behind-the-scenes look at our book buying process, from receiving phone calls and making appointments through appraisals, offers, and, if things go well, packing up the truck. These trips keep fresh books flowing into the shop, but they’re also a little adventure: we get to see new places, meet new people, and hopefully bring back a story or two for the podcast. Join us (and our 87 specifically-sized cardboard boxes) for a journey into book buying on this fully-stocked new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #234 - A Long Wait
This week we’re talking about one of the shop’s longest book buys—a deal that took over thirty years to seal. In the late ‘70s Ken was called out to a local library, where he made a bid on some really good books. They said that the board of trustees would have to think about it. Decades passed, babies grew up, pant silhouettes changed, and the library called to check in every five or ten years. Ken would find the collection—Gutenberg Bible pages, illuminated manuscripts, Audubon folios, etc.—stored in a slightly worse location almost every time he visited. Ultimately, in the 2010s, when the library was really, really ready to sell, we cut a check for almost a million dollars and rescued the books from a janitor’s closet, next to the cleaning supplies. Ken shares his tips for summoning patience in frustrating situations on this long-overdue new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #223 - So You Want to Own a Book Store
To many people, owning a small book shop seems like a dream job—it’s right up there with the cute neighborhood restaurant and the cozy Vermont inn. Unfortunately, like these other idealized occupations, the reality is usually a lot of hard work and uncertain remuneration. We’re often asked for advice about opening a book store, which is somewhat ironic since Ken’s father started the Brattle with little business experience and no money, but, if you’re really interested, this is the episode for you. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of selling new versus used books, rare book schools where you can network and learn the tricks of the trade, and even some alternative career options for people who love books but who might not love working with the public. Get set for a new life of literary ambiance, eccentric customers, and twelve-hour days on this career-minded new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #210 - Appraisal Stories
What makes a good book appraiser? Experience, a willingness to admit what you don’t know, and a way to get in touch with someone who does. Today we’re talking about the wide range of appraisals the Brattle gets involved in—from casual evaluations at the shop to written reports for tax or insurance purposes. It’s usually easy to tell when a book has only literary or sentimental value (and people are often surprisingly happy to hear it), but things get trickier when the books turn out to be valuable and rare. We’ll also talk about appraisals that miss the mark, including one for a signed (by someone) copy of a first (Canadian) edition of a classic American novel.
Brattlecast #203 - The Massachusetts Historical Society
In this episode we’re talking about a recent appraisal at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Founded in 1791, this institution is the oldest historical society in the United States, a treasure trove of documents, artifacts, and rare books that bring the past to life. Ken got to experience a few of these items: letters from Jane Austin and John Winthrop, plus a speech by Thomas Jefferson. We’ll discuss the difficulties of appraising such rare materials—and encourage you to visit the Historical Society and see their extraordinary collections for yourself—on this invaluable new #brattlecast.