Tag Archives: Antiquarian Books

Poison Book Project

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Just in case you needed another reason to wash your hands these days… The bright emerald green cloth on the books (above & below) gets its intense color from copper acetoarsenite, more commonly known as arsenic. The inorganic pigment was … Continue reading →

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Dog Days of Summer

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

July 12th to August 20th are the official “Dog Days of Summer,” the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius, which in astrology is connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck.Here … Continue reading →

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It’s fate

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Brian D. Butler
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Bookstore Tourism : London

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to visit each of the 17 wonderful bookstores in this charming short video from Abebooks. The little tour manages to cover antiquarian, secondhand, and indie community bookshops in every corner of London. Enjoy. … Continue reading →

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Go For The Books, Stay For The Beer

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Büchermeile Düsseldorf  is a mile-long book market of stalls along the banks of the river Rhine in Düsseldorf Altestadt. It happens on three weekends in the summer, the last one of this year will be September 22-23 (weather permitting of course).The … Continue reading →

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Is It Mold ?

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

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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Embrace Vellichor

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Revel in vellichor and forget your worries.

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Blue Monday

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Brian D. Butler
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Back to Back

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The antiquarian book above is actually two volumes in one. This rare style of binding is usually referred to as dos-a-dos, from the French “back to back”. As the term suggests, these books share the same back cover. Books bound in … Continue reading →

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Is It Mold ?

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

One of the hazards in collecting and/or selling antiquarian and secondhand books is the frequent presence of mold. Active book mold is usually identifiable, as it is typically damp and fuzzy, but inactive mold can often be confused with dirt, … Continue reading →

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