Brattlecast #191 - Doris Kearns Goodwin

In today’s episode we’re talking about acclaimed author—and friend of the shop—Doris Kearns Goodwin. She’s known for insightful and engaging presidential biographies such as Team of Rivals, The Bully Pulpit, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning No Ordinary Time. Goodwin’s latest book, An Unfinished Love Story, weaves together memoir and historical analysis, exploring the 1960’s through the lens of her own life and through the extensive archives of her late husband Richard Goodwin, a presidential aide and speechwriter for Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. 

Signed copies are available through our own friendly rival, Beacon Hill Books & Cafe.

Brattlecast #178 - More Bible Stories

It’s the first book ever printed, and still the most commonly printed book in the world: today we’re talking about the Bible. Because there are so many copies out there, older Bibles command a wide range of prices—from nicely bound Victorian volumes with mostly sentimental value to the famous Gutenberg Bible, a single page of which can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are also pre-printing press Bibles, worth millions but historically priceless, as well as copies that collectors want because they belonged to famous figures like JFK or Elvis. We’ll even talk about where old Bibles go to retire (because nobody wants to just throw them out).

Brattlecast #175 - The A. Lincoln Story

In today’s episode we’re talking about past appraisal customers who ended up being dramatically, confidently, and sometimes abrasively wrong about their signed books. Anyone can look at an inscribed title page and get excited—you want to believe that your book’s former owner was that A. Lincoln, and not just a Lincoln. This is why booksellers and appraisers have to be cautious, do their research, and consult with colleagues, especially when it comes to big, thrilling items. Occasionally your appraisee’s belief in their impossible inscription will persist in the face of pretty compelling evidence—that the signed book in question was printed decades after the death of United States President Abraham Lincoln, for example—and they’ll storm out or hang up on you, hopefully to seek a second opinion. Learn more about the shop’s least likely finds on this farcical new #brattlecast.

Brattlecast #167 - Historic Photo Albums

Today we’re talking about another surprising Brattle find: a fairly nondescript album that turned out to contain photos of prominent 1800s abolitionists. The collection includes small, sepia-toned portraits of Charles Sumner, Phillips Brooks, and even Sojourner Truth. We’ll also discuss other historical photos that have arrived at the shop, and the way that studio photography democratized image-making during the Civil War era, offering life-like portraits for a fraction of the cost of a commissioned painting. It all comes into focus on a flashy new #brattlecast.

Brattlecast #150 - Antiques Roadshow Memories

In this episode, Ken talks about some especially notable TV appraisals from his years on Antiques Roadshow. The highlights include a Civil War letter with a surprising twist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, and one item that… actually didn’t work out so well. The show is currently in the midst of its 27th season; you can catch new episodes Monday nights on PBS, or watch online here: www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow.