Bookstore Tourism: London

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

When I first discovered London’s iconic Stanfords in 1986, Britain’s largest travel bookstore was already 133 years old. Located in a beautiful turn-of-the-century building on Long Acre in the heart of Covent Garden since 1901, the shop has one of the world’s most extensive retail selections of guidebooks, travel literature, maps, maritime charts, and globes.

After 118 years in the same location, Stanfords is moving around the corner to a larger store on Mercer Walk, which will open in January, 2019. Unfortunately they won’t be able to salvage the famous floor maps from the old building, but will be creating updated versions for the new shop. I’m sad to see the historic bookshop close, but look forward to browsing the new store soon.

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Cheesy Literature

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve discovered some awfully cheesy literature over the years, but Ben Denzer’s 20 Slices is the most original work. Composed of twenty slices of individually wrapped actual American cheese* pieces and bound in bright yellow covers, the “book” was published in a limited edition of ten copies by Catalog Press. The “author” also runs the publishing company, which has issued such literary classics as $200 In Order, a book of two hundred $1 notes in order of serial number, and Stamp Compositions, 3000 postage stamps without any text. Then there is the iconic work 200 Fortunes a bound book of two hundred actual Chinese restaurant cookie fortunes. If you’re interested, Denzer’s website reveals more about the art book publications.

* for readers outside of North America, American cheese is a pseudo-dairy product that has the texture of latex, the taste of rubber, and the nutritional value of cardboard.

 

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Don’t let the bastards cheer you up

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

I never tire of London-based artist Harland Miller’s brilliant send-ups of iconic Penguin book covers. His faux vintage covers are always on point.

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The Only Map You Need

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Jools Stone

 

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Book Purge Pain

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Every four or five years I attempt a thinning out of my personal library through a merciless book purge. Last year I managed to ruthlessly select about 300 titles and donate the lot to my local library for the annual book sale fundraiser. The video below demonstrates just how difficult the process can be for the inveterate booklover. Bibliophile, comedian, and author Robin Ince, who co-hosts the Book Shambles podcast, attempts to let go of 1,000 books in one go. Downsizing can be painful, but funny too.

 

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Literary Revisionism

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Release the kraken

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

British street artists Luke Egan and Pete Hamilton—aka Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellos—visited the historic Philadelphia Navy Yard this week and installed a gigantic inflatable sculpture in an abandoned warehouse on the Delaware River waterfront. The twenty purple, blue , and green tentacles are part of a piece they call “Sea Monsters HERE” that will be on display until November 16,2018.

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Shakespeare & Co. branches out

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

We had some very exciting bookstore news here in Philadelphia with the soft opening of the new Shakespeare & Co. bookshop in the heart of the city. Located in the ritzy Rittenhouse Square neighborhood on Walnut Street, the store occupies the former early 20th century Fidelity Trust Building. The decor incorporates original brick, steel, and wood work from the old structure in a contemporary design.

The two floors of the bookstore offer a well-curated selection of about 15,000 titles and a print-on-demand publishing machine. There’s also a cozy cafe with La Columbe coffee and snacks from the great Metropolitan Bakery.

Shakespeare & Co. is the first branch outside of New York City for the expanding chain that has no ties to the iconic Paris bookstore of the same name, or either bookshop in Prague or Berlin also capitalizing on the historic reputation.

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Cherish Your Book Scorpions

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

 

As a collector and seller of antiquarian and secondhand books, I often discover the remains of dead book scorpions. The tiny arachnids are actually pseudoscorpions and are the book lover’s friend and mostly unseen companions. Although they are harmless to humans, these ferocious little bugs devour pernicious booklice and dust mites that damage books. If you discover a live book scorpion don’t kill it, just gingerly place it in an old book.

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Philadelphia Pulse

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Over the past few years, the once drab plaza around Philadelphia’s magnificent Second Empire-style 19th century City Hall has been transformed into a welcoming gathering place. Last month, the newest component of the Dilworth Park project was launched with the initial phase of the beautiful “Pulse” fountain installation. Created by artist Janet Echelman, “Pulse” traces the surface path of the SEPTA subway Green Line which runs beneath the plaza. As trains travel below the square, vibrantly colored mist erupts from a walkway in the fountain. Utilizing a high pressure misting system and LED illumination, a fog-like curtain rises from the fountain.

The installation, which is meant to evoke the steam that rose from the old Pennsylvania Railroad Station that stood across the street from City Hall during the 19th century, will eventually include a Blue Line and an Orange Line section as well. But for now, the “Pulse” at the northern end of Dilworth Park is drawing crowds nightly.

 

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