A Downtown Institution, Brattle Book Shop Is A Bibliophile’s Delight, Stocking Thousands Of Rare & Exceptional Works

The Brattle Book Shop was founded in the Cornhill section of Boston in 1825 and has been in the hands of the Gloss family since 1949. Over the years George and his son Ken–the current proprietor–built this shop into one of the largest antiquarian bookshops in the country. Housed in a three-story building in the heart of Downtown Boston, The Brattle Book Shop carries an impressive stock of over 250,000 books, maps, prints, postcards and ephemeral items in all subjects. In addition to its general used and out-of-print stock, The Brattle Book Shop also maintains an inventory of collectibles, first editions and fine leather bindings in its rare book room. The store also buys used and rare books. Outside of the store, in a separate lot, Brattle Book shop sells thousands of books at deep discounts ($1-$5 each) off of mobile book carts. The books are sold everyday, year-round, weather permitting.

Ken Gloss is a past President of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America’s New England Chapter. He also sits on the Associate Board of the Boston Public Library. Ken appraises books and libraries for Harvard, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern, Simmons, Suffolk, Tufts, Babson, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the FBI and others. He lectures on the antiquarian book field to library groups, historical societies and other book-interested groups throughout the New England area. Ken Gloss has appeared on numerous local and National television and radio programs talking about books and their values. He also has written many articles on appraising books, book collecting and selling. Ken gives frequent talks on the topic of old and rare books, with appearances scheduled in and around the Boston metro area. You never know what treasures might be in your own attic!