Brattlecast: A Firsthand Look at Secondhand Books

Grab your magnifying glass and join Ken as he investigates famous fakes, dubious documents, and suspicious signatures. In this episode we learn all about authentication: why who you know can matter more than what you know, the dangers of wishful thinking, and why most items simply aren’t worth faking. We’ll also delve into the weird world of collectible forgeries.

What do a book made of silk, a 40 volume set of Native American photographs, and T.S. Eliot’s copy of The Great Gatsby have in common? They are all very expensive! In this gem of an episode Ken discusses some of the most valuable treasures ever to pass through the shop, plus a nearly discarded Founding Father letter with an eerily relevant message and the gold rush diary that paid for a baby. You’ll learn all the way to the bank!

Ken takes us on a voyage through the watery world of Titanic memorabilia, including unsinkable sales brochures, doomed dinner menus, and a very limited edition by a passenger of the Carpathia. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Ken and Jordan dive deeply into the work of Edward Bernays, "the father of public relations" and a longtime friend of the Gloss family. Learn about Bernays' role in building the modern American home and why he invested so much in the color green.

Any book that could capture the majesty of our first national park would have to be measured in inches, not feet. Check out some photos of the amazing Hayden landscapes on our social media pages, @brattlebookshop!

When a priceless library is stolen, or a rare historical document's authenticity is in question, the U.S. government turns to one man. Ken tells stories of some of his most exciting appraisals, from Paul Revere to the Pilgrim Charter, and imparts some of the magic of everyday appraisals at the shop. All that glitters is not gold!

It goes by many names; the Good Book, the Book of Law, the First Book, the Word of the Lord. But whatever you call it, there's probably one within shouting distance right now. Ken tells some of his favorite stories about the Bible, and explains which editions are the most valuable, and which are the most appropriate for your calorie-conscious diet.

Batter up! Red Sox catcher Moe Berg was tasked with intercepting much more than fastballs as a spy infiltrating Nazi Germany. Ken shares intimate stories about Moe's life, including numerous visits to the Brattle Book Shop in this privileged look at the enigmatic ballplayer.

What better place to spend a weekend than at your local book fair? Books, antiques, photographs, authors, you never know what you'll find! Ken talks about how to make the most of a a book fair, and what their future might hold.

The sky is dark, because all the stars are at the Antiques Roadshow! Look behind the scenes with Ken as he recounts some of the best (and worst) segments from over the years, such as a Walt Whitman cameo in a letter from the Civil War, or a wacky candid of a beloved religious leader.