They say that in life, change is the only constant, and this is true of LIFE Magazine collecting as well. While older readers collected specific issues for personal nostalgia reasons, their children and grandchildren find the magazines to be fascinating time capsules of mid-century American design, fashion, and culture. We’ll talk about the decline and unexpected resurgence of the LIFE secondhand market, part of the same wave of interest in vintage styles that repopularized the vinyl record and the Eames lounge chair—both of which you might find stylish, copy-heavy advertisements for in an old LIFE Magazine.

Care to join us for a drink? Today in the studio we’re taking a look at one of the very first books on cocktails, punches, and—of course—nogs. Considered the father of American mixology, Jerry Thomas published his Bar-Tender's Guide in 1862. Thomas’s libations range from the familiar (a nice mint julep) to the antiquated (you never see White Tiger’s Milk on the menu anymore) to the alarmingly flammable (if you must mix yourself a Blue Blazer, please make it your first drink of the night); he also includes general bartending advice and recipes for temperance drinks (mocktails today). We’ll discuss Thomas’s flashy, fascinating career, other collectable cocktail guides, and a little bit of ice history on this intoxicating new #brattlecast.

It’s the first book ever printed, and the most commonly printed book in the world: today we’re talking about the Bible. Because there are so many copies out there, older Bibles command a wide range of prices—from nicely bound Victorian volumes with mostly sentimental value to the famous Gutenberg Bible, a single page of which can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are also pre-printing press Bibles, worth millions but historically priceless, as well as copies that collectors want because they belonged to famous figures like JFK or Elvis. We’ll even talk about where old Bibles go to retire (because nobody wants to just throw them out).

Today we’re talking about one of the simplest, but most crucial, lessons: the importance of being nice. While many imagine the rare book dealer as an unhelpful curmudgeon, Ken believes that, not only is it nice to be nice, it’s also good for business. We’ll talk about times when the shop’s friendliness paid off, inadvertently building relationships with mayors, newspaper editors, and the New England mafia—as well as doormen, secretaries, and restaurant staff. Settle in and get comfortable with this convivial new #brattlecast.

Recently appearing in Alexander Payne’s acclaimed new film, The Holdovers, the Brattle is no stranger to celebrity encounters. In today’s episode we talk about an unexpected visit to the shop from actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard (in happier days, or at least less publicly unhappy ones). Depp shopped in the rare book room, learned about a Catholic convent of local superfans, and posed for photos with the staff. We’ll talk about some other famous faces that have popped up in the shop, as well as how difficult it can be to recognize these people out of context, on a star-studded new #brattlecast.

In today’s episode we’re talking about past appraisal customers who ended up being dramatically, confidently, and sometimes abrasively wrong about their signed books. Anyone can look at an inscribed title page and get excited—you want to believe that your book’s former owner was that A. Lincoln, and not just a Lincoln. This is why booksellers and appraisers have to be cautious, do their research, and consult with colleagues, especially when it comes to big, thrilling items. Occasionally your appraisee’s belief in their impossible inscription will persist in the face of pretty compelling evidence—that the signed book in question was printed decades after the death of United States President Abraham Lincoln, for example—and they’ll storm out or hang up on you, hopefully to seek a second opinion. Learn more about the shop’s least likely finds on this farcical new #brattlecast.

Today in the studio we have a pair of old Boston maps, from 1803 and 1863. Boston is probably built on more man-made land than any other city in North America, so its maps tell a dramatic story of geographical transformation spurred by prosperity, pollution, technological advances, and social change. The first map is from a Boston Directory—like an 1800s Yellow Pages where you could look up your innkeeper or ropemaker—and depicts a slender peninsula between the Harbor and the Charles River; Washington Street exists already but becomes an island at high tide. Our second map is from an auction catalog selling plots of land in the newly created, or still in progress, Back Bay neighborhood (formerly a bay). One of Boston’s most desirable areas today, Back Bay was built to seclude affluent families from an increasingly crowded and impoverished downtown—essentially creating a miniature suburb in the heart of the city. Listen to learn more about Boston’s history and cartography on this orienting #brattlecast.

Today we’re talking about trends in book collecting and the ways that they reflect larger cultural changes. Newly nostalgic millennials aren’t shopping for their parents’ rare books—Horatio Alger is out, and Harry Potter is in. Books on science and space exploration have seen their prices skyrocket thanks to an influx of tech-money collectors. Works of LGBTQ+ history, poetry by Black authors, and environmentalist classics like Silent Spring are becoming more valuable, while the prices of Confederacy-adjacent collectables plummet. Join us for a trendy #brattlecast on what’s new in novels.

What’s the hardest thing about buying used books? For Ken, it’s not coming to a monetary agreement with the seller, or even moving a large collection—it’s the sentimental bonds that readers form with their libraries. In today’s episode we talk about emotional factors that come up when we look at books: family disputes, estate dramas, and people who, deep in their hearts, aren’t ready to part with the books they’re trying to sell us. Plus, we lighten the mood with a story about Somerset Maugham’s bad friend. Listen for a lesson in bookseller psychology on this priceless #brattlecast.

Father and son build a business together in this very special Brattlecast, as Ken gives Jordan an in-depth look at his relationship with his father, and how George Gloss turned his shop into a destination stop for book lovers from all over the world.