Author Archives: Alice

On the things we leave in books

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Alice

The odd looking illustration for this article is a index card I found in one of my book purchases. Some frugal bookseller made the front and back of a single index card do for four books, with an equally efficient swirl … Continue reading →

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The merchant spam detector

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Alice

A book seller, just like anyone else with an email address, gets lots of spam. While we can be as skeptical as the next guy (or gal), we often have an added reluctance to discount an email addressed to the business because … Continue reading →

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On the Delights of Obsession

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Alice

One thing most booksellers learn early on is that specificity sells. It may not sell quickly, but when you have something that’s so detailed and esoteric that ninety-nine percent of the population couldn’t care less, that remaining one percent will … Continue reading →

Posted in Book collecting, Book selling, Wisconsin history | 1 Comment

Training vs Breaking – An old teaching a dog book

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Alice

Practical Dog Training; or Training vs. Breaking, by S.T. Hammond. (New York: Forest and Stream. 1892.) I can’t remember exactly when I bought this little book — probably 35 years ago. I do remember where I bought it: at the Renaissance … Continue reading →

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What ever happened to St. Matthews?

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Alice

Just over one hundered and two years ago, the community of St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran church published a booklet commemorating their newly built church and its consecration on December 19, 1909. The church was located on the corner of 10th … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in German, Genealogy, Milwaukee history | Leave a comment

On guessing the value of books

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Alice

Nothing warms a bookseller’s heart more than picking a book out of the “maybe” pile thinking it is only worth a few dollars and then finding that it’s actually worth ten times as much. I find that this happens to … Continue reading →

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Ten years after 9-11

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Alice

In another post, I tell the story of where I was when I first heard about the attack on the World Trade center.  Today, the 10th anniversary of that event brings it all back, including the emotions. It’s a good day to write … Continue reading →

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Wisconsin the welfare state. In 1869?

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Alice

One of the things I love best about acquiring and selling old books is the wonderful feeling of holding history in my hands. Right now, I’m looking at a battered old book called Laws of Wisconsin Relating to the Organization … Continue reading →

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Google and author’s rights

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Alice

The AE Monthly, a newsletter put out by the Americana Exchange, is one of a few on-line publications I read religiously. Most of the time, I find the articles interesting and educational, but just this once, I’m a little disappointed … Continue reading →

Posted in Book selling, Opinion Pieces | Tagged , | 2 Comments

On ruining a perfectly good book

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Alice

Bad things happen to good books. See my post on Spine perished – a summer project, for example. Granted, ”spine perished” is an extreme case. More commonly, a book will get dropped, or get wet, or the jacket will be torn … Continue reading →

Posted in Book collecting, Book selling, The books I keep | Tagged , | 2 Comments