Tag Archives: Antiquarian Books

Who knew that we are climate heroes

Posted on January 12, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

I have always contended that secondhand and antiquarian booksellers were the epitome of recyclers, but now we’re getting awards for our efforts. One of the most popular antiquarian and secondhand bookshop in the North East of England has won the … Continue reading →

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Bookstore Tourism

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

The Abecadlo Antiquarian Bookshop is located in a former 19th pharmacy, at 18 Kościuszki Street in Krakow, Poland. Its beautiful interior is made up of antique pharmacy furniture dating back to the 1890s, which the owners managed to save and … Continue reading →

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a book scout listens to his instincts

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I recently stumbled on this old story below about a book scout that appeared years ago in The New Yorker magazine. Now you may be unfamiliar with the term “book scout”. I was one and didn’t know that I was one … Continue reading →

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Book Doctor

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

As a collector and seller of antiquarian books, I have been a very amateur book conservator for the past 30 years. So, I am in awe of Roger Cox who is a master repair specialist on the team at The British Library, … Continue reading →

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Lost At Sea

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

On its maiden voyage en route from Southampton to New York, the RMS Titanic sank after colliding with an iceberg. Among those who died at sea were American book collector and Grolier Club member Harry Elkins Widener who at 27 had already amassed an … Continue reading →

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Bizarre Books

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Brian Lake who manages Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers in Bloomsbury, London has compiled  a volume of truly odd and eccentric book covers in his new book Librorum Ridiculorum A Compendium of Bizarre Books. The books in the collection range from fairly … Continue reading →

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Christmas at the Bookshop

Posted on December 25, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Tom Gauld

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A Perfect Time To Visit The Haunted Bookshop

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

  What better time of the year to visited The Haunted Bookshop than at the Halloween season. Located in Cambridge, England and fittingly found down a dark, spooky alleyway, the diminutive bookstore more than lives up to its name. Packed … Continue reading →

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Monday, Monday, can’t trust that day

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Happy Monday! The floriated initial M in the above text comes from the 16th century alchemical book Della tramutatione metallica sogni tre by Gio. Battista Nazari Bresciano. Floriated, or decorative, initials are common in antiquarian books. Typically new sections of … Continue reading →

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The Great Bibliohoax

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I love a good prank, especially if it is at the expense of the pretentious. While bibliophiles and antiquarian booksellers are not known for their hijinks, back in 1840 an infamous bibliohoax was perpetrated on wealthy collectors, librarians and booksellers … Continue reading →

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