Brattle Book Shop: A Boston Institution Since 1825

The History of Brattle Book Shop

• 📚 Founded in 1825 as Burnham Bookstore, Brattle Book Shop is one of the country's oldest used and rare bookstores, located in Boston's Cornhill neighborhood.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The shop has been owned by Ken Gloss's family for 75 years, with his parents purchasing it in 1949 when it was on the verge of closing.
• 🔥 In 1973, the original building burned down, but the community rallied, and the shop reopened with a meager stock, eventually rebuilding over four years.

The Business of Used and Rare Books

• 🔍 Ken Gloss, the current owner, actively seeks collections from estate sales and individual sellers, looking for items that can be resold for a profit.
• 🎯 The shop acquires books on nearly any subject imaginable, with a particular interest in collections like Alice in Wonderland.
• 💰 The inventory ranges from affordable books in the open-air market selling for $1 to $5, to rare and valuable items.

A Lifelong Connection to Books

• 👶 Ken Gloss grew up in the bookstore, with his parents claiming his first word was "book."
• 🧑‍💻 He began working in the shop at age five and continued through school, eventually taking over the business.
• 💎 The store attracts a diverse clientele, including younger people who appreciate the retro appeal of old books, similar to vinyl records, and serious collectors interested in authors, subjects, or bindings.

Discoveries and Personal Treasures

• 📜 As an appraiser, Ken Gloss has handled incredibly rare items, including the original manuscript for Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," a Bill of Rights, the Pilgrim Charter, and a Declaration of Independence.
• 📰 He also cherishes a magazine article by baseball player and spy Mo Berg and a page from the 530-year-old Nuremberg Chronicle.
• 🎄 The most valuable book to Ken is a personal copy of a book he has read to his children and grandchildren every Christmas Eve, highlighting the emotional significance over monetary value.

The Hunt for the Elusive

• 🧐 Ken Gloss is still searching for an original, rare work by Edgar Allan Poe, described as a pamphlet, which has never crossed his path.
• ❤️ The emotional connection to books, like the one shared by the interviewer with "The Velveteen Rabbit," is often priceless to individuals, even if it doesn't translate to market value.