Brattlecast #153 - An Impressive Walk-In

One of the great things about working at the Brattle is that you never know what’s going to walk through that door. Recently, a customer surprised us by bringing in a copy of the Nuremberg Chronicle, one of the earliest printed books to feature illustrations. As if that wasn’t interesting enough, he also had a copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer, as well as a handful of volumes inscribed by their publisher (William Morris) to their illustrator (Edward Burne-Jones) for good measure. In this episode, we’ll talk about how we put a value on such a rare collection and the importance of avoiding ethical conflicts of interest when buying and appraising books.

If you have something you’re curious about—and it doesn't have to be the Nuremberg Chronicle—you can always drop us a line at info@brattlebookshop.com.

Brattlecast #104 - Amazing Appraising

Do you hate it when a mysterious great uncle, whom you’ve never even met, passes away and unexpectedly leaves you his rambling manor, about which dark rumors have circulated in the nearby village for hundreds of years, plus a cobwebbed, candle-lit library of rare works on the occult? Same. You may be thinking, “Welp, better get over there, spend the night, and flip through these books, reading passages aloud at random.” Wait. Why not call the Brattle and find out what you’ve got on your hands? Appraisals are one of our specialties, we’ll never charge you for a casual, verbal appraisal, and, if you can send us photos of the books, we can appraise libraries anywhere in the world. Plus, no matter how much blood you’ve got oozing out of your walls, rest assured—we’ve seen worse!

Brattlecast #100 - The 100th Brattlecast!

Welcome to the 100th episode of #Brattlecast! We’re celebrating by talking about the Brattle’s appraisal of a document so culturally, historically, and monetarily valuable that it featured prominently in a recent Hollywood action movie, opposite co-star Nicholas Cage. But of course the real national treasure is all the fun we’ve had on the podcast, sharing these stories and connecting with our listeners. Thanks for coming on this journey with us—we’re already looking forward to the next 100 episodes!

Brattlecast #92 - More Appraisals

Today we’re talking about one of the things that the Brattle does best: appraisals! They essentially tell you how much a book or books are worth but their formality can vary widely depending on the needs of the appraisee; from a casual verbal estimate to a rigorous written appraisal that can stand up to the scrutiny of the IRS. Learn how we do it and hear about some of Ken’s all-time favorites on this extremely valuable #brattlecast.

Are you curious about the value of your own books? Feel free to reach out to us at info@brattlebookshop.com.

 

Brattlecast #44 - Boston Latin

Founded in 1635, Boston Latin School is the oldest public school in the United States, and boasts many famous graduates, including Benjamin Franklin, Henry David Thoreau, and Leonard Bernstein. One could build a collection consisting entirely of works by and about its illustrious alumni, as Ken suggests to one of his former Boston Latin classmates during a seemingly fairly raucous high school reunion. Plus, some tips on insuring your own rare book collection.


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