New Blog

Hi everyone,

This blog has moved to - www.jollyoldebookstore.com/blog

See ya there!

Brian

May Newsletter

Store News The renovation is going great, and we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The main shelving for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section is complete, and looks great. We're working on the fiction section, and are adding 50% more (much needed!) shelves for books. It is a very slow process, but definitely worth the effort.

The Website The revamped website is pretty much done, and looks great. We've already had quite a few customers utilize the online inventory, and had us deliver online books to the store for pick-up. The blog is also up and running. I wish I could say that I've been updating it daily, but there IS already quite a bit of good stuff on there, so make sure to check it out.

Terry On Books Our own Terry Stillman has also decided to dive into the world of Blogging He is an excellent writer, and even wrote a story on our (all too brief!) store cat, Eco. Here is an exerpt: The cat in the photo has been named "Eco" after Umberto Eco, and he has recently accepted the position of Bookstore Cat-or Cat-in-Residence-at the Jolly Olde Bookstore in Port Moody, British Columbia. Eco turned up at the backdoor of the bookstore about three weeks ago, looking for something to eat and a place to crash. Brian, the owner, and his fiancee , Tracy, took to the cat right away, and Eco (as they named him) settled right in. Eco had a tattoo in his ear so they thought someone was probably missing him. Brian and Tracy found Eco's vet who had a phone number for his owners. Unfortunately, the number was out-of-service so the owners had probably moved. In a way, this was good news because Eco had decided that the bookstore was a good gig. Today, a flyer was pushed through the mailslot with the picture of a lost cat on it-a cat named "Bo", who looked a lot like Eco. Part way through the day, Bo's owner showed up to claim him. Sure enough, the family had moved, but not too far. Someone had seen one of the flyers they had posted and phoned to tell the owners they thought their cat was at the bookstore. Tonight, Brian and Tracy are saying good-bye to Eco and they'll be handing him over to his owners who have had Eco (Bo) for about five years. Tears on both sides. So, Eco's position as Bookstore Cat was short-lived. Too bad, he seemed a Natural. What do you think about Bookstore Cats? Good idea or bad idea? Do you like shopping in a bookstore that has a cat? If you own a bookstore, does a cat live there? Or do you prefer to have your cat live at home? To read the entire blog visit: http://www.stillmanbooks.com/terryonbooksblog/

So what is a Number Line Anyways?

The Number Line is a fairly new method of indicating the edition status of a book. This method shows a line of numbers on the copyright page, usually between 10 and 1. The sequence of the numbers varies between publishers but the basic principal remains the same - a first issue-edition-impression requires the presence of the number 1.For example 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 indicates a first printing. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 would indicate a second printing and so forth.

Of course, some publishers LOVE to confuse people, so they use LETTERS. If the sequence of letters ends with an 'a', it is a first printing. A 'b' is a 2nd, andso forth.

Now RANDOM HOUSE really love to mess with people. Their first printings end with a 2. Instead of the 1 they state "First Edition".

Make sure you check for a price in the dustjacket, because you may still actually have a Book Club edition.

But I'll get into THAT one next time...

Author Signatures

The grand prize for book collectors out there is the First Edition, SIGNED by the author. Of course, not all book sellers are trustworthy, so you need to do your research to make sure the signature is authentic.

Here is a great little site what gives samples of author signatures to help you ensure you're getting what you pay for!

http://www.purplehousepress.com/sig.htm

It has been estimated that a whopping 80% of all signed books available online are fakes, so please do your research, and only buy from sellers you trust.

April Newsletter

Store News We're currently undergoing a major renovation, and reorganizing the whole store. We're opening up another room, and expanding all sections. We are going to have more books, better use of shelves, and it'll be a much better experience for all. Don't worry, the mess happens at night, and by morning we're ready to open for business! We're pleased to have Terry Stillman onboard as Store Manager. His vast experience and passion for books makes him a wonderful addition to the team. He's at the store every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so come by and say hello. You can visit his website at www.stillmanbooks.com. Spring has sprung, and we will be back to summer hours in a couple of weeks. That means we'll be open on Sundays again. Hopefully we'll be open late on Fridays as well, but no promises on that one.

The Website We've been hard at work revamping our website at www.jollyoldebookstore.com. We have all the store news, online sales, even a blog. The blog is brand new, but I'm going to be updating it at least 4 times a week with little book collecting tidbits that I think you may enjoy. I'm also pleased to announce an alliance with our friends at IAMBOOKS. They are one of Canada's top online book dealers, with well over 20,000 books available. The wonderful thing about them is that ALL their books are in top condition. They have the highest standards I have ever seen, and only deal in mint books. Any book available on their site can be purchased directly and delivered to the store. No shipping costs - you can just swing by the store and pick it up. Check out our website for more details.

Store Credit For those who haven't been by in a few years, your store credit is still good. Our policy is still same, and if you have credit, we will still honour it.

Selling Authors their own books

Yesterday I had an online sale for a Pauline Gedge book.

Sold to Pauline Gedge.

This isn't the first time this has happened, but is definitely the first time for a bestselling author (6 million worldwide sales!). It was a strange feeling. I felt like I should include a note of apology for selling her something that kind of already belonged to her.

What do you think? Is it humiliating for an author to have to buy back their own book, even if they have sold millions of copies? Or do they really not care? They're moved on to other things, and just need a copy...

Opinions?

10 Top Things I'm Asked to Explain

10. Boards - The stiff front and back parts of a hardcover book.

9. Endpaper - The folded sheet of paper pasted to the inside of the front or back cover and attached to the edge of the first or last page of a hardcover book during manufacturing. Endpapers are not normally numbered.

8. Advance copy - A review copy. When a book is published, complimentary advance copies will often be sent to reviewers.

7. Fair Condition - A worn book with defects such as a torn dust jacket, foxing, or loose binding, etc.

6. Fine Condition - Nearly new, with slight signs of aging, but no defects.

5. Vanity Publisher - One who publishes a book paid for by the author.

4. Very Good Condition - A complete book, as issued, with very few blemishes or signs of wear.

3. Reading Copy - A book which has little or no value as a collectible item, but has complete text.

2. Chipped - A condition in which small pieces of the dust jacket have been chipped away at the edges

1. Foxed - Discolored, usually with reddish-brown spots, especially the leaves of a book.