About Us

Information about btc, our history, policies — all your questions answered.

Finding Books

Can you help me find a book not currently in stock?
Funny you should ask. We can answer that with a categorical "it all depends." We are very actively (some would say hyperactively) engaged in the pursuit of great copies of important, unique, and/or amusing books in a number of fields such as literary first editions, detective and science fiction, African-American literature and history, manuscripts and author archives, sports fiction and history, wine books, vintage romances and other books with early dust jackets, popular culture, quirky crap, and many other bookish by-ways that we might find ourselves wandering into. We suffer from the "If you build it, they will come" syndrome. (After all, you're at our site, aren't you?) Our objective is to find the best and most interesting stuff we can, and hope that the customers will come to us. However, if you are looking for a specific title or a range of titles in one of these fields, we will make at least a perfunctory effort to connect you with that title. If you are looking seriously, and have demonstrated that fact, we will intensify our efforts on your behalf. But don't be surprised if we also find you some really odd and amusing stuff that you weren't even looking for in the first place.

Do you have books that are not listed on your website?
Yes. We'll get to cataloging them one day.

Can you represent me at auction?
We provide this service to frequent customers, particularly when we will be attending the auction but they cannot. If you are interested in a major book auction and would like us to assess the lots and advise you about them, and be your proxy to bid, contact us. We can also bid for you at other types of auctions, including but not limited to cattle and tobacco, but you may not be as happy with the results.