Today we’re talking about a particularly exciting appraisal: a volume of presidential autographs containing original documents signed by every American president from George Washington through Richard Nixon, with accompanying portraits. How do you even put a price on an item like this? Slowly and carefully. Complete collections of presidential signatures have been compiled before, so our evaluation largely comes down to the documents themselves: their condition, whether they were written while the president was in office, and how interesting or historically significant their content may be. Join us for an up-close look at 200 years of American history on this official new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #218 - Robert Frost Inscriptions
In this episode we’re talking about some recent finds that have a lot to tell us about the rare book business. We got a call about some early Robert Frost editions, which are nice but overall more people are selling items like this than buying them these days. The volumes are signed by the author, which is good but not especially rare: Frost was a generous, gregarious person, happy to sign copies of his books for friends, students, and fans. Along with the signatures he wrote out entire stanzas of poems that would be published in later collections, which is great: we have a winner!
Listen to learn more about the kinds of inscriptions that collectors value most, and, if there’s a podcast topic that you’d find valuable, feel free to reach out to us at info@brattlebookshop.com.
Brattlecast #215 - What's in a Picture?
This week, we’re talking about a new way of looking at old photos: looking beyond their primary subjects and bringing the background details into focus. Under close observation, almost every vintage postcard or photo album that comes into the shop inadvertently reveals a wealth of information about the texture of daily life at the time that it was taken. From the fashions and hairstyles of passersby to the style of cars and the prices in shop windows, these images act as a fascinating window into the past. We’ll also discuss the worrying lack of these valuable artifacts from the present and the more recent past—as more and more photographs remain online only and as AI introduces an element of doubt into everything we see—on this snappy new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #206 - More About Bookplates
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 #191 - Doris Kearns Goodwin
In today’s episode we’re talking about acclaimed author—and friend of the shop—Doris Kearns Goodwin. She’s known for insightful and engaging presidential biographies such as Team of Rivals, The Bully Pulpit, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning No Ordinary Time. Goodwin’s latest book, An Unfinished Love Story, weaves together memoir and historical analysis, exploring the 1960’s through the lens of her own life and through the extensive archives of her late husband Richard Goodwin, a presidential aide and speechwriter for Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy.
Signed copies are available through our own friendly rival, Beacon Hill Books & Cafe.