Book Description

This new reference work lists geographically some 3000 U.S. book dealers of antiquarian, specialty, and used books, providing address, telephone and FAX numbers, hours, stock size, and specialties. It also indicates whether the shop issues catalogs or undertakes special services such as appraisals and searches. Indexes allow access by subject, store name, and owner/manager. The volume invites comparison with R.R. Bowker's "American Book Trade Directory (ABTD)", now in its 38th edition, which lists bookstores dealing in both secondhand and new books and covers Canada as well as the United States. "ABTD" lists 3,483 used and antiquarian dealers among its nearly 31,000 entries. Both works have gaps, and "ABTD" doesn't note hours. Though, booksellers, collectors, special collections, and rare book rooms are likely to prefer the volume under review, especially because it costs so much less, general collections already possessing "ABTD" can probably pass on this new title.