In this episode, we’re responding to a question from a listener: What exactly is a bookplate? Basically, they’re little labels that indicate ownership, usually pasted onto a front endpaper. A holdover from a time when books were expensive luxury items, today bookplates are most commonly found in library books, although they can be a fun way to personalize a private collection as well. We’ll talk about instances when bookplates can add to the value of a book, and about collectors who focus on the bookplates themselves. Remember, no question is too big—or small—for the #brattlecast; if there’s something you’re wondering about, reach out to us at info@brattlebookshop.com.
Brattlecast #180 - LIFE Magazine Trends
They say that in life, change is the only constant, and this is true of LIFE Magazine collecting as well. While older readers collected specific issues for personal nostalgia reasons, their children and grandchildren find the magazines to be fascinating time capsules of mid-century American design, fashion, and culture. We’ll talk about the decline and unexpected resurgence of the LIFE secondhand market, part of the same wave of interest in vintage styles that re-popularized the vinyl record and the Eames lounge chair—both of which you might find stylish, copy-heavy advertisements for in an old LIFE Magazine.