Second hand shops are often the best places to go to get gifts for
people who are hard to buy for. And when it comes to books, those craving antique titles,
volumes that are out of print, or even just someting different and obscure flock to used book stores.
Edmonton has quite a few second hand shops catering to book lovers. While many carry mostly pulp fiction
and leftovers from last year's best=seller lists, if you look hard enough you may just find a treasure!
Derek Frost - Books has
a specialization in military books, including uniforms and history. Bellum
Books also specializes in military titles, but the hours are by appointment only as is Derek Frost.
For general titles, mostly hardcover, Edmonton Book Store has a farily
extensive selection. It's also a great place to unload your old and unwanted books. On the other hand, The Jim Corbett Foundation
is highly specialized new and used titles dealing mostly with big game hunting and travel.
Bjarne's Books is probably more known for their antiques than their limited book selection, but even a visit is like going to a museum.
The books are usually quite old and rare and deal with Western Canada, literature, and the Arctic (particularly the Gold Rush). Antique books, maps and engravings
can also be found at William H. Thomas Fine Books Limited. But if it is book on spiritual,
themes, mostly Christian, try The Bookseller.
If you are going shopping for second hand books, as I often do, bear in mind price and quality.
If a book has yellowed, flaking pages and binding that is coming apart, the price should reflect
its deterioration -- the only exceptions would be extremely rare antiquarian books from centuries past.
Many of the used book stores carry maps of where all the second hand book shops are, along with addresses and hours.
It's a great way to pass the time and maybe find a few gems!
Much of the information here came from The Used Book Lover's Guide to Canada published by
Book Hunter Press.
