In their latest issue, SLUG (SaltLakeUnderGround) magazine profiles one of my favorite booksellers, Ken Sanders. The piece written by Erik Lopez is titled Ken Sanders: Pimp of the Printed Word and provides us a glimpse into the rich world of Sanders.Sanders, who is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of his bookshop, has also achieved success as a publisher, his Dream Garden Press has published a Robert Crumb illustrated version of Edward Abbey's environmental classic Monkey Wrench Gang, and more recently has become an expert in the field of stolen books. His recent tenure as head of the Security division of...
James Lackington: 18th Century Bookseller Extraordinaire
William Wallis (fl.1816-1855) after Thomas Hosmer Shepherd (1793-1864), Temple of the Muses, Finsbury Square. London: Jones & Co., 1828. Etching and aquatint with added hand-coloring. James Lackington was the most successful bookseller of the 18th century.His legendary shop at Finsbury Square in London was named "The Temple of the Muses" and when the flag was raised on the huge dome outside it meant Lackington was inside and ready to do business.Lackington revolutionized the book trade by becoming the first bookseller to refuse to sell books on credit. His cash only approach allowed him to offer books less expensively. Lackington also...
A Mess in Washington, D.C.
Granted, things are a bit of a mess in Washington but this is over the top.Capitol Hill Books in Washington, D.C.The owner, Jim Toole, admits the shop is “disorderly and confused,” luckily he has a good sense of humor.Sign above the law book section:Image 1 via DC BlogsImage 2 via DC TravellerImage 3 via DCist
Death of a Bookstore Trailer
Video trailers are becoming part of the standard marketing plan for many publishers but this is the first time I have seen one created for a bookshop that's closing its doors!To promote their going out of business sale Loome Antiquarian Booksellers in Stillwater, Minnesota has created this trailer featuring vignettes of books acting "out their favorite literary death scenes."The background music is a bit devilish and there is a little too much book violence for my taste but it is a pretty clever piece. Watching it a couple times I couldn't help but think that it seemed too happy, too...
A Rogue Bookshop Appears and the Books Are Free!
Free Books! was how the snippet on Shelf Awareness began.The MailTribune of Southern Oregon ran a story on a new bookshop in Medford, Oregon "Ideals in Action. Book Exchange offers free books and runs on online sales."The shop is called the Rogue Book Exchange and their tagline is: Have a book, leave a book - want a book, take a book."It's a free, nonprofit bookstore and we pay the rent by online selling about one in 50 of the books that people give us." says Jenny Hamilton who owns the shop with here husband.An intriguing model to say the least...