Once in a while, we decide that we have too many books taking up shelf space that we
are never going to read again. Many of these are books from the 1920s and 1930s that have
been in the family for a while, although some are obtained locally from estate sales. Some
are newer. These books are offered at quite low prices, and are shipped via media mail to
keep your costs low. The only thing we add on is a 50 cent charge for shipping boxes,
which we need to buy. It may be possible to combine more than one purchase and place them
all in a single box, in which case only a single boxing fee will be charged. Basically,
you shouldn't have to pay more than 50 cents times the number of boxes required to ship
the books.
We do our best to describe the condition of these books, but since this is somewhat
objective all we can promise is to do our best. If you are really unhappy with a purchase,
you may return it if you feel that it is not as described. We will refund the price of the
book. Of course, since the post office is not going to refund our shipping costs, we can't
return these to you. We will give you back your box cost if returned in the original box,
since we can reuse it. In all honesty, it probably isn't worth it for you to return a book
unless it is pretty expensive, as you will be paying shipping in both directions. Often,
you should donate it to a local charity instead.
Be default, we will not provide pictures unless you ask for them, but are happy to
photograph any part of the book on request. That's what digital cameras are for.
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Please send all inquiries and purchase requests via email by clicking here.
Fiction
Title: Hannibal
Author: Thomas Harris
Published: 1999, Delacorte Press
Price: $2.75 (alibris lowest price $2.95)
A novel by the author of The Silence of the Lambs, this volume continues the
saga of Dr. Hannibal Lecter seven years after he was interviewed by Clarice Starling in
the earlier novel. Like new condition, price written on first page. Hardcover, 484 pages
with dust jacket.
Title: 'Tis
Author: Frank McCourt
Published: 1999, Scribner
Price: $2.00 (alibris lowest price $2.95)
The sequel to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angelas Ashes follows the story of the young
Frank McCourt as he establishes himself in America. Hardcover, 367 pages with dust
jacket. Some wear to dust jacket, but otherwise very good. Price written on end paper, no
other marks. Remains of a vendor's sticker on back cover left some adhesive.
Title: Being There
Author: Jerzy Kosinski
Published: 1970, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Price: $10.00 (alibris lowest price $18.30)
A modern classic, the basis of the Peter Sellers movie; winner of the National Book
Award. One of the most popular books by a writer of international stature, this is the
story of Chance, a man who emerges from nowhere to become an advisor to statesman,
financiers, and politicians. Yet, his own experience has been mostly limited to gardening
and watching television. Hardcover, 148 pages with dust jacket. Some wear from
packing and unpacking, but otherwise excellent. Book club edition.
Title: Violin
Author: Anne Rice
Published: 1997, Alfred A. Knopf
Price: $2.75 (alibris lowest price $2.95)
Anne Rice provides a story of two charismatic figures bound to each other by a
passionate committment to music. Hardcover, 289 pages with dust jacket. Price written on
endpaper, else in excellent condition.
Title: Meanwhile (The Picture of a Lady)
Author: H. G. Wells
Published: 1927, George H. Doran - 1st American Edition
Price: $3.75 (alibris lowest price $3.90)
A novel by H. G. Wells. Blue hardcover book, no dust jacket. Some minor spots and wear
on cover. Price written on flyleaf. Shows signs of age, but no other marks or damage that
I have noticed. 320 pages.
Non Fiction
Science and Medicine
Title: Physiology and Anatomy
Authors: Greisheimer and Blount
Published: 1932, Lippincott
Price: $3 (alibris lowest price $3.45)
Here we have a nurse's textbook on the anatomy of the human body, also suitable for use
as a home reference. While one hopes our knowledge of medicine has increased in the last
70 years, the human body hasn't changed all that much in that period, so most of the
information is probably still pretty accurate. Besides, books from the 20's and 30's are
pretty interesting in their own right.
The book is in generally good condition. As you would expect from a textbook that was
probably used by someone in a nursing course, there is some wear to the cover. There is no
dust jacket. An owner (probably the original one) wrote her name on the flyleaf and
opposite the title page. There is a fold-out chart on the vascular system that has a tear
in it. There are some notes in pencil on the chart of the muscular system. Other than
that, I don't see any damage.
From the preface to the second edition: "The purpose of this volume is to provide
a text book which sets forth graphically and simply the basic knowledge of physiology and
anatomy necessary for nurses and other non-medical students." There are 401
illustrations, 48 in color.
Biography
Title: American Characters
Authors: R.W.B. Lewis and Nancy Lewis
Published: 1999, Yale University Press
Price: $6.25 (alibris best price, $6.34)
This is essentially a new book, read once. It is a collection of reporoductions of
works from the National Protrait Gallery, each accompanied by a "literary
portrait" of about one page in length. The collection ranges from Pocahontas through
Walt Disney with stops along the way for everyone from Emerson and Ulysses S Grant to Babe
Ruth and Al Capone. A large format paperback (8 x 10) in excellent condition.
Title: Anne Boleyn
Authors: Norah Lofts
Published: 1979, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan (1st American edition)
Price: $4.75 (alibris best price for this condition, $4.95)
A biography of Henry VIII's second queen, mother of Queen Elizabeth I, who was beheaded
on charges of incest and adultery. Her marriage to Henry, despite the Pope's objections,
led to the split between the Catholic Church and the Church of England. This is a maroon
hardcover book, complete with dust cover, in very good condition. 187 pages plus index.
Title: Margaret Mead: A Life
Authors: Jane Howard
Published: 1984, Simon & Schuster
Price: $5.25 (alibris best price for this condition, $5.45)
Howard's definitive biography of the woman who was one of the giants of the twentieth
century covers Mead's professional accomplishments, her three marriages, her intense
friendships and her groundbreaking travels. Hardcover with dustjacket. 527 pages
including 16 pages of photographs, notes, and index. Remains of a sticker on back of just
jacket, otherwise excellent condition.
History
Title: And I Was There - Pearl Harbor and Midway
Author: Rear Admiral Edwin T. Layton
Published: 1985, Konecky & Konecky
Price: $6.75 (alibris best price, $6.80)
The author was the Pacific Feet's intelligence officeer before and during World War II,
and has unique insights into information that has only recently been declassified.
"Layton gives a blow-by-blow account of a war within a war, of admirals fighting
admirals. It is a tale of men in Washington vying for power and for turf while
disregarding the national interest... It is the documented narrative of how [our]
deterrent strategy failed..." Written with Captain Roger Pineau and John Costello.
596-page (including index) hardcover with dustjacket. Some stains on the dust jacket
itself, else excellent condition.
Title: The Fatal Shore
Author: Robert Hughes
Published: 1987, Knopf
Price: $2.75 (alibris best price, $2.95)
This epic account of the founding of Australia was a national best-seller. Trade paper
(large format paperback), 688 pages including index. Very good condition, with minor
staining of cover.
Nature
Title: Great American Deserts
Author: Rowe Findley
Published: 1972, National Geographic Society
Price: $3.75 (alibris best price in this condition, $3.95)
As you would expect from National Geographic, an extended essay with extensive
photography (by Walter Edwards) covering the topic. Covers not only the geology of the
desert regions of America, but also the plants, animals, and the people who choose to live
there. 207 pages including index, hardcover. Very good condition, dust jacket shows some
wear from moving seven times since I bought it. No marks, no torn pages.
Social Sciences
Title: Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women
Author: Susan Faludi
Published: 1991, Crown
Price: $2.75 (alibris best price in this condition, $2.95)
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist examines women's crumbling status in American
society and culture as a result of media reaction against feminism. Winner of the National
Book Critics' Circle award. Hardcover with dust jacket, 552 pages including index.
Excellent condition, previous owner's name written on first page in ink, else no problems.
Technical
Title: MS-DOS Encyclopedia
Author: Ray Duncan, editor (introduction by Bill Gates)
Published: 1988, Microsoft Press
Price: $10.00 (alibris best price, $49.70)
If there's anything you ever wanted to know about MS-DOS (yes, I know it's unlikely at
this point), it's probably somewhere in the 1500+ pages of this book. It pretty much
covers everything Microsoft wants you to know about the operating system. There may be
some secrets that are not covered, but probably not too many. I used to have the source to
MS-DOS (yes, legally) in my desk drawer and this book would have been more useful than
three inches of assembly language listings. Too late now. Hardcover with no dust jacket,
very good condition. We're not going to get near the going price on this one, because it's
bad enough you have to pay postage on a book that's hard to lift.
