Tuesday, July 17, 2012

New Arrivals: July 2012

More goodies we acquired this month include:
  • Steven Paul Martini  The Simeon Chamber. A Near Fine First Edition Book in a Near Fine Jacket. Steve Martini's extremely scarce first book.
  • John Camp  Fool's Run. A Very Good minus First Edition Book in a Good plus Jacket. John Sanford's quite scarce first fiction book.
  • Robin McKinley The Blue Sword A Very Good First Edition Book in a Very Good minus Jacket. Ms McKinley's Newbery Honor book, and first in the Damar series.
  • Richard Castle Heat Wave. A Fine First Edition in a Fine Dustjacket. Castle lives on ABC, and plays poker with James Patterson, the late Stephen Cannell, and Michael Connelly

Monday, July 9, 2012

Let's Hear It For the Lesbians !

Sometimes there are idiots who sell via the internet, but not on the usual book-search venues.  Don't ask - I have no idea how this one came up on one of my searches: 

Best Lesbian Erotica 1998
Tristan Taormino. USED in GOOD Condition. Paperback. 200 pgs (no rips, tears or missing pages). Released in January 1998 by Cleis Press $ 40.00


I was fascinated, so I checked the usual listing sites: ABE, Alibris, Biblio, and found the same book offered for sale with prices ranging from $ .99 to $10.00. After adding $4 .00 postage, it's still 25% - 88% cheaper to buy off the internet.


I've therefore resolved to sell all my $ 10.00 books for $ 40.00, and make sure that they're in good-only condition.


IDIOTS !

Friday, July 6, 2012

July Acquisitions

It's already been an excellent month for finding books that are worthy of being in our store, and more importantly, worthy of our customers.  Here's a sample:

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Plaza Books - Off-Line and Now On-line

Our esteemed colleague Ann DeVere, owner, operator, and queen of Plaza Books - one of the top three bookstores in Las Vegas -  has sold books on-line through the better web-hosted book venues for many years in addition to selling them in her store. She now has added a full-time web site to her selling options. Check it out: Plaza Books

Our Friend Vin Would be Proud !

Doing some research this morning on a book that we bought, I came across this description from an on-line seller. See, they aren't all morons, and some do have standards: 

Monday, June 25, 2012

June Additions to Our Stock

We've found some interesting things this month.  All, of course, are First Edition, First Printings unless otherwise specified. They include:

Deke Castleman  Whale Hunt In The Desert  A Very Fine book in a Very Fine dustjacket. Inscribed by  Castleman and his ghost writer, with promotional materials laid in.

Hazel Rossotti  Fire: Technology, Symbolism, Ecology, Science, Hazard  A Very Fine book in a Very Fine dustjacket.

Harold Wilkins  Flying Saucers Uncensored. a Very Good book in a Good dustjacket.

George Will  The Leveling Wind  A Very Fine book in a Very Fine dustjacket. Inscribed by Will.

Joe Jeff Goldblatt  Special Events: The Art and Science of Celebrations. A Very Fine book in a Very Fine dustjacket. Inscribed and dated by Goldblatt.

Scott Turow  One L. A Very Good book in a Good, chipped dustjacket. Turow's first book.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Coffee & Tea With I.C.S.

As Barbara & I were having our early morning revitalizer today, she mentioned that the I.C.S. books we bought this week had an excellent suggestion: dust your windows before you wash them. Now, this may be obvious to many of you, but for us it was a revelation. Also, you may be asking what the hell are I.C.S. books. Aha ! Gotcha.

Tom Wolfe - Brilliance Personified

Once in a while when we're out scouting, I invest in a book for me. Or Barbara. I bought myself a copy of Wolfe's latest offering: Hooking Up. It's worth a read. Or two. Or maybe even three. And it's every bit as good as Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers  q.v.
The link below is worth following so that you can see that there are still some real writers out there:  Tom Wolfe


Bookstore 106 Starts Soon at UNLV

Follow the link for information: Bookstore 106  Or call me at 444.9415 during normal business hours.

UNLV Upcoming Courses

 Now available for on-line registration:

Bookstore 101:   Bookstore 101  Starts 9/25

Bookstore 103:   Bookstore 103  Starts 11/06

Monday, June 18, 2012

More Than a Post-It

Our June, and maybe July sale will be 3M - not Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing, but

Military
Music
Mystery
 50% Off
(excludes signed, autographed, and inscribed books)

Can It Be Two-and-a-half Months ?

Yes, but it takes even me some time to recover from pneumonia, congestive heart failure and quadruple by-pass surgery. There are some who'll be sorry that I survived, but others who are pleased. I don't care.
I'm back.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

On-Line Dealers to Avoid

We do buy on line, as do some of our colleagues. Here's some people to avoid unless you will settle for only a reading copy at a bargain price, Read their response-to-questions statements:

Monday, February 27, 2012

February New Arrivals

Buttino, Frank    A Special Agent - Gay and Inside the FBI.
                         A fine first edition first  printing book in a fine dustjacket. Signed, dated, and
                         located.
Danziger, Paula  The United Tates of America. Inscribed and dated.
Meltsner, Michael  Cruel and Unusual - the Supreme Court and Capital Punishment.
                          A very good minus first edition first printing book - previous owner's signature -
                          in a very good minus dustjacket.
Fox,Wesley, Colonel, USMC  Marine Rifleman. A fine first edition first  printing book in a
                         fine dustjacket. Signed.
Peffer, Randall. Logs of the Dead Pirates Society. A fine first edition first  printing book in
                        a fine dustjacket. Inscribed and dated.
Conrad, Nancy  Rocket Man - Astronaut Pete Conrad's incredible ride to the Moon and 
                         Beyond. A fine first edition first  printing book in a fine dustjacket. Signed and
                         chopped.

March 2012 Las Vegas Bookmans Guild Meeting

Myrna Donato has organized the March Las Vegas Bookmans Guild meeting. Details below. If you aren't getting our direct e-mails, please call her if you plan to attend: 648.9303

Royal Cuisine near our store (Amber Unicorn Books) we will be meeting there again on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 6:00 PM.
We will again have the private room. Need feed back on whether you like holding the meetings on Sunday. Same as last time bring cash as they don't do separate checks.

Subject for discussion is going to be What were your favorite books from childhood (ages 5-12) and are they still popular and what kind of prices do they command in todays' market.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Another Giant Step for Our Friends in KY

Two Bears - Michael & Andy - & A Dog Books just keeps on ticking. The most recent coup is Horse Cave being certified by the Kentucky Arts Council as a cultural district.  It's an interesting state-and local partnership, and bodes well for our colleagues' business. Sort of reminds me of Las Vegas !  Check it out:
Culture In Horse Cave

Friday, February 10, 2012

Every Once In a While, I'm SO Proud...

One of our colleagues has a store and also sells on the Internet. His descriptions and prices are excellent: fully described books and jackets, full value for the price he asks. He sent us the following e-mail exchange with a would-be customer, or idiot, if you prefer:

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A View of the Las Vegas Book World from Americana Exchange

Bruce Mckinney crafted his impressions of our fair city, and some of its credible bookstores during his recent visit. You may disagree with some of the things he says. Feel free to comment here. The article can be accessed at: Americana Exchange on Las Vegas

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A Fraternal Visit from Americana Exchange's Bruce McKinney

Saturday was a fairly slow day, which in and of itself is ok, but I appreciated the slowness more when Bruce McKinney from AE walked through the door. You should remember that quite often I post links to the AE monthly online  newsletter as the information contained therein is usually excellent for Bookmen of all levels. We had an extended chat, and I benefited significantly from his cogent observations about the trade and life in general. If you don't subscribe, please do so, it's wonderful education.  Here's the link:     AE

Monday, January 9, 2012

Recent Acquisitions 2012

It's been a very good year so far for acquiring stock that's worthy of being in our store, and worthy of our customers. That always makes us feel great, and hopefully this trend will continue. All  books are First Editions, First Printings, unless otherwise specified.New goodies include:

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Bookstore 104 Registration - a few spaces left.

The first of the Bookstore Series for 2012 is Bookstore 104 -It's A Mystery. This is a course similar to Bookstore 103, but it is a specialty class in collectible mystery authors and books, and requires, as usual, considerable outside work. Registration and details:   It's A Mystery  Feel free to call me if you have any questions - 702.444.9415

Back By Popular Demand

Since I abandoned this blog I've had quite a large number of people complain that I am a quitter, and that the blog is much more worthwhile than am I. Well, I'm back, but most of the postings will be new arrivals, sales, and the ongoing Bookstore Series of courses at UNLV. And, of course, books of worth and worthwhile books.And other book-related things.And...  Happy New Year to you all !