The Price-Codes of the Book-Trade

'The popular notion of the antiquarian or second-hand bookseller as an amiable eccentric, hunting
treasure, ‘sleuthing’ or engaged in flirtatious literary banter with transatlantic female customers remains as potent as ever, but most people know that the chief activity of any ordinary flesh-and-blood bookseller they are likely to encounter is rubbing out an old price and pencilling in a new and higher one. A customer may be curious to know what the bookseller paid for his wares, as indeed may the dealer himself.' - from the author's introduction. Followed by ninety-three decodings: booksellers, auction houses, libraries and individual collectors; indexed by bookseller. Provenance and code as subjects for original research. 500 copies. Laid in is “Homeless Price-Codes” (printed A4 sheet folded once, one of only 'a few copies' printed, designed by Poltroon Press, July 2016), “a list of code-words not known to be in use in the book-trade, published for the assistance of code-seekers whose invention has failed them.”

Publisher: Ian Jackson. First American edition
Edition: First Edition
Place Published: Berkeley, CA
Printed wrappers, stapled. Fine.


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