Black Alley

A lot has changed since Marty and Jan were first bitten by the bug of book -collecting. When we started, we focused on mysteries; just about anything that said First Edition ended up on a shelf (or a stack) in our house. Over the years our tastes have become broader, the stacks taller (a problem for Jan, for some reason) and our enthusiasm for this gently mad and wonderful pursuit has grown unchecked. After a few years, working in a bookstore that dealt in new, used, out of print and rare books, we learned about quality points and how to give an honest description of a books condition. It is very important to us that a book gets to you in the condition that you expect. If that expectation isnt met, the book may be returned (in the same condition) for a full refund. In the meantime, we keep being thrilled by the occasional find that is rare or beautiful or gives us insight into some arcane corner of experience. This world can range from a pamphlet put out by a regional bank, to a slick display of expressive art, to a treatise on some esoteric subject. Current strengths in our collection include fiction, poetry, and history (esp. California). We also have surprises in other areas, so we invite you to search for your own preferences and see what you can find.