Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Alternatives to the Kindle

The very helpful and informative video below is from Shaun Bythell, the proprietor of The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland—the UK’s best book town.

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Is It Mold ?

As a seller of collectible, antiquarian, and secondhand books, I get some very interesting queries about old books. The most common questions revolve around the value of specific titles, but I also hear from folks concerned about damage, stains, foxing, … Continue reading

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Off The Map

Off The Map is a wonderful collage series created by London-based Hungarian artist Zsofia Schweger. The component images all are derived from discarded old maps and found postcards that the artist collected while she was a student in the United States.

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Scale the Stacks

Another wonderful cartoon by Grant Snider for the NY Times.

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Books Are Sharks

“We were talking about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which was something which resembled an iPad, long before it appeared. And I said when something like that happens, it’s going to be the death of the book. Douglas said, … Continue reading

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Somethings may be beyond satire

This week’s issue of the New Yorker features a post-modernist satirical short story by the award-winning author George Saunders. “Little St.Don” is told in a series of semi-comic vignettes that aim to capture our living nightmare. I’m a big fan of Saunder’s … Continue reading

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It’s all about the books

I loved this sweet, silly video about passionate bibliophiles from the suburban Vancouver BC secondhand bookstore chain The Bookman.  

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The Modern Novelist

Tom Gauld  

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Almost As Good As New

You may have to look closely to get the gist of these clever ads for Lisbon’s Livraria Avelar Machado secondhand bookshop. The 142 year-old bookstore has a way with print ad campaigns.

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Imagining Britain

Austin, Texas-based artist and illustrator Chet Phillips has re-imagined vintage British travel posters in a marvelous series of fantasy and horror themed postcards and posters. The set includes a dragon, Doctor Who, a troll, Harry Potter, a giant, and Cthulu. … Continue reading

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