In this episode, we round out our day-in-the-life series by talking you through an average work week at the shop. This particular week’s treasure hunt took us on a tour of New England, from Concord and Cambridge to Maine and the Berkshires, and even into the chambers of a former federal judge. But it’s not really about the destination or the journey—it’s about the books we bought along the way: a haul including collections on art, history, architecture, woodworking, and much more, plus some decorative leatherbound volumes. Of course, the magic of the Brattle is that there’s no such thing as a typical week—whether you’re working or shopping, every day brings something new.
Brattlecast #159 - Math & Science Books
Usually if you walk into the Brattle with an introductory math textbook you’ll receive a polite ‘no thank you.’ However, it’s a slightly different story when that textbook was published in 1695. In today’s episode, we’re looking at a still-pretty-accurate antique trigonometry book, written in Italian and complete with engraved illustrations and folding diagrams. We’ll talk about what makes technical volumes valuable—aside from sheer age—and why Brattle is less math-phobic than most secondhand book shops (an academia-rich location, strong employees, and Ken’s background in chemistry play a part). Learn how it all adds up on today’s tangential #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #117 - The First American Bible
Today in the studio we have a very special item: a single page from a copy of the first Bible printed in Colonial America. Mamusse Wunneetupanatamwe Up-Biblum God, also known as the Eliot Indian Bible, is a translation of the Geneva Bible into Natick, a previously unwritten dialect spoken by the Algonqian peoples of Massachusetts (British publishers held a monopoly on the publication of English-language Bibles, so none were printed in America until after the revolution). This Bible was the work of John Eliot, a Puritan missionary, and a team of Algonquin translators. Printed in Cambridge it took over 14 years to produce. You can view the full Bible here and learn more about its laborious, painstaking creation on today’s episode.
Brattlecast #42 - 23 Questions
What makes a book valuable? Is it age? Scarcity? How old is an old book? Which souvenir reprints consistently trick people into thinking they've got a million dollar antique on their hands? Are public libraries good? What unassuming volume does Ken ravenously hunger and thirst for? If I spill a glass of fruit punch on my book, is it cool to dry it off in the microwave? Answers to most of these questions and more, from Ken and a little pamphlet called 'Your Old Books'.
