Brattlecast #194 - Boston Book Fair 2024

We’re so excited for the 46th annual Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair, a great opportunity to rub elbows with book dealers—and enthusiasts—from all over the world. This year’s fair takes place at the Hynes Convention Center on the weekend of November 8–10. Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday—but we know a guy who can get you free passes for Friday night, too (it’s Ken; reach out to the shop if you’re interested).

The book fair truly has something for everyone, from medieval manuscripts to modern first editions—and it’s fun to hold these rare items in your hands and discuss them with their knowledgeable and enthusiastic dealers. Plus, there’ll be a full lineup of speakers, a city-wide week of auxiliary events, and the Brattle’s famous jars of plain and peanut M&Ms.

For more information visit abaa.org/bostonbookfair; we hope to see you there!

Brattlecast #84 - Facsimiles

Today we’re talking facsimiles: Why the real, original Declaration of Independence doesn’t look like it was printed on crinkly, pirate treasure map-style brown paper! The early work that Edgar Allan Poe hated so much that he tried to destroy, but only succeeded in making the surviving copies all the more monetarily (but not poetically) valuable! The publishing house creating such beautiful facsimile editions of modern literature that people started using them to do dust jacket fraud! The advances in printing technology that have recently made it possible to forge an entire book! And why, sometimes, the hardest thing about spotting a fake is letting its owner down easy.

 

Brattlecast #46 - Ken's Lectures

Did you know that Ken gives entertaining and informative talks about old books at libraries and historical societies all across New England? And then after the lecture he’ll stay to do free appraisals of the attendee's potential treasures? Check out Ken's schedule here http://www.brattlebookshop.com/events/ to find out when he'll be in your neighborhood and listen to this episode to learn more about his public speaking career.

Brattlecast #38 - Map Quest

Watch history unfold through some rare and collectible maps. Join Ken as he guides us on a journey through Boston's past, from George Washington's arrival on Washington Street to real estate sales in a trendy new neighborhood called the Back Bay. Find yourself in this week's Brattlecast.