The ThriftBooks Blog

By Phillip Caprara • June 10, 2022

The century-old Modern Library series of books began in 1917. Throughout the years, their volumes have especially appealed to book collectors because of their history and unique look. When beginning to collect, there are many facets to these wonderful vintage volumes to explore and consider. This primer is designed to help you choose your collector style.

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By Phillip Caprara • May 19, 2022

When John James Audubon completed his monumental work, The Birds of America, in 1838 every species he had depicted was still thought to be extant. In this regard, The Birds of America is critical for displaying the ornithological biodiversity during Audubon’s time. Yet during his research ventures, Audubon noticed that some species were, or had become, uncommon over a relatively short period. In honor of Endangered Species Day, let’s take a look at some of the birds of Audubon’s America, both those no longer with us, and those saved by the hard work of dedicated conservationists around the world.

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By Phillip Caprara • February 16, 2022

Illustrator, author, animator, puppeteer, cartoonist, these are just a few of the titles that can be given to the talented Edward Gorey. Like many illustrators, Gorey has never been a household name. Despite this, however, his works have a devout cult following. You've likely come across them without realizing. Of all his oeuvre, nowhere is this combination of artistic style and fascination with the darker elements of humanity more evident than in his abecedaria.

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By Phillip Caprara • July 15, 2021

If you have heard the name Clark Ashton Smith before, it is almost certainly as one of the great triad of Weird Tales writers along with Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft. But before he was publishing tales of horror that took the grotesque to a new level, however, Smith crafted vivid and romantic poetry worthy of analysis.

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By Phillip Caprara • April 26, 2019

Working in a warehouse for one of the world's largest online book sellers, you see more books than you could have ever thought possible. Mixed in among all the beautiful volumes destined to be resold, are those poor, unfortunate, broken books usually consigned to recycling. But where others see books that have outlived their usefulness, I see an opportunity...

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