Expert on old, rare books to speak and give appraisals at UMass

BY JULIAN MCKINLEY

Published on September 28, 2007

An expert on old and rare books comes to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Sunday, when he will advise people how to spot the literary treasures hidden in their attics.

Kenneth Gloss, proprietor of the Brattle Book Shop in Boston, will give a talk entitled "Treasures in Your Attic: Old and Rare Books" at 3 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Sponsored by the Friends of the UMass Libraries, the talk, which is free, is part of their ninth Annual Donor Appreciation Reception, held from 2 to 4 p.m., also in Memorial Hall.

People planning to attend are encouraged to bring their own volumes for on-the-spot appraisals and topics of discussion throughout the lecture.

According to Gloss, homes throughout New England often become "treasure troves for old and rare books that have increased in value over the years," he said, in a recent statement about his work.

One of America's oldest and largest antiquarian bookstores, the Brattle Book Shop serves as a source for books beyond the world of the mega-bookstores of Barnes & Noble and Borders. A quarter of a million books, from classics to recently released best-sellers, grace the shelves of the Brattle Book Store at 9 West St. in Boston.

Gloss, who has worked in the store since he was a child, and has succeeded his father, George Gloss, as sole proprietor of the nationally known shop, incorporates the extremely rare and valuable items from his store into his presentations. Some of these items include a sales brochure for the Titanic, the poster of the play the night Lincoln was assassinated, and the program from the 1918 World Series, the last time the Red Sox claimed the title prior to their 2004 World Series victory.

Recognizing that books like the first edition of Harry Potter have been known to sell for as much as $20,000, and the fact that even the value of early computer books has increased considerably, this lecture looks to not only serve as a forum for antiquarian enthusiasts, but also as a tool for enlightening those interested in learning more about their own books - and their potential value.

A question and answer session will follow the lecture, which will be followed by free verbal appraisals of the books people bring with them.

For more information, call the Brattle Book Shop at (800) 447-9595 or visit www.brattlebookshop.com, or call the UMass Amherst Libraries at 545-0995.