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An interview with Calix Books

Biblio checks in with Calix Books to learn more about their book business, collecting interests and more! To view and shop their inventory, click here.


When did you get started in bookselling?

Calix Books was created in the 1990's but did not live on Biblio until later. The business started on eBay in the mid-1990's, selling rare incunabula books and books from the 1500's along with what in the antiques trade, we call 'smalls'. The book business grew out of antiques buying, restoring, and selling. The gradual transition to books, particularly older and rarer books, became extremely interesting for many reasons; the first being, that I'm an avid reader, a scientist by profession and training, an entrepreneur in biotech/pharma, just generally a curious person. Also, along the way I was given a gift. The first edition of the 'Italian Wars' printed in London in the 1600's. translated into English and it was a folio. It was by my eyes a so very large book, with its original boards and original leather covering. That was my first, old (in my mind at the time) very BIG book. It was instantaneous fascination and frankly, when I found out I could buy and sell books such as this, well I became a bibliophile. I have given up the antique furniture even though I really enjoyed finding pieces, restoring them with minimal damage, learning how they were made, who made them, all of which had to be learned by seeing, touching, memorizing, and buying and selling. The same process started with books, old books, and then grew into New England ephemera, mostly letters, correspondence. deeds, titles, and documented legal demands. To work in this trade, frankly it’s not work for me, more of an enjoyment, where I could keep something for a while, such as a 12th century old and new testament bible on vellum, written in minuscule script, that was once owned by the great bible collector of Germany, then into my hands. Sadly, it went on the block at Christies. I have retained full color scans of the entire work. Another great find was the very first edition by the Smithsonian Library signed by the first director and the two archeologists/anthropologists that documented the Ohio Indian mounds. What a stunning work of art. I bought it at Sothern's in London, on a business trip, and I now regret selling it, even if it was sold to a professor at Ohio State, who is studying the Indian mound building people...That buyer, has an open offer from me to buy it back at a 50% premium to what he paid me, until I expire to meer lines and code on a screen or black and white on paper. I'm also enjoying the cataloging, which I never thought I would enjoy, but frankly, that's how you learn the real character of a book. By studying it, collating it, and providing a description to a buyer, you are learning a bit about history, the author, his or her audiences, and the life and times of the day the book was first published and sold to an eager first time buyer. Astounding, that a book will not only outlive the owner, but that the owners are often recorded in the books' long, long, long, life. What's not to love? I'm hooked, line, and perpetual, joyous sinker.


What drew you to bookselling?

Bookselling, what drew me? That's a good question because sometimes, I really don't want to sell the books I find or that find their way to me. I started by reading about the art of bookselling, which meant I had to learn the history of book making, printing, binding, preserving, restoring, and then finally selling. I'm always amazed that when I find a really old, odd book, whether big or small, especially one that I'm able to actually read, that the book has survived all the plagues, wars, dislocations and environmental hazards, to now be in my possession, even if for just a while. I also enjoy looking at how a book is made, the exquisite leather tooling and binding for books is amazing. Yet the process is so old and timeless, a rebound book will last another 300, 400, or in the case of the 12th century bible, nearly 1,000 years (assuming we're all not eliminated, first, that would be 2100, so 78 years from now). I don't know of any furniture that I can buy today that is that old.


Did you have any mentors in becoming a bookseller?

Sure, James Gray. I bought quite a few books from him over the early years, only for collecting. Over the years, we have bought and sold a few books together, not many, but they were always rewarding on the buying and the selling. I have a few of his former wife's books that she rebound, exceptional quality binding. Devon Eastland is now at Swann Galleries and living in New York City. James is living near Harvard Mass and is still very active in the trade. Other folks that I've run into over the years as well but I got my first real push from James Gray.


What are your specialties as a dealer?

I really like early Americana, for the simple fact that I live near Boston and I trudge up to Todd's Farm when the weather is right, early Sunday mornings, and then make my rounds through the few remaining antique group shop places on the way back to my home, hunting for finds. Sometimes, curious smalls and sometimes the occasional bit of ephemera. I'm also an active buyer from local New England auction houses, focusing on early ephemera and book lots from estates. But my real interest is early English books, black letter, and incunabula. Unfortunately, all of it that I had was sold in three successive auctions at Christie's and a few to Heritage. I also retain, besides the Biblio site, an eBay site and a website where some items are sold.


What's the most amazing book you've ever sold?

A very big book printed and bound by Anton Koberger titled, Vita Christi. I really wish I had not sold it. I also sold 4 very nice books of hours, made in the 1400's, one was of exceptionally high quality and made for 'A Lady' of means. And of course, the 12the century bible, old and new testament hand written in miniscule, nearly perfect hand with ultra thin vellum sheets in spectacular condition. But my heart really breaks to have sold the first book ever printed by the Smithsonian signed by the first director and the two authors, beautifully engraved, along with the transmitting letter to a library in the UK. A fabulous piece of bookmaking art in America.


What is your favorite part of being a bookseller?

I have to confess, it's about the hunt, as it is nearly for all of us I believe. Then it is also about finding the right home for the book or item. I enjoy getting notes back from folks that really appreciate what they have bought.


Do you have an open storefront or have you in the past?

I was live for a period of time in two locations, one in Salem Mass as part of a group shop and the second location, just on the other side of the border in Maine. A third location, after Maine shut down, was in Rowley, Mass, also a group shop environment. I switched to all online about 2008 or so. On eBay; as Calix Books, my handle is: angelzgrace (1413) Positive Feedback (last 12 months): 100% Member since: Dec-16-97 in United States.


If so, do/did you have any bookstore pets?

I did not have a bookstore pet, but personally I have always had dogs, big, little, and medium. My wife and I have had three successive wonderful Yorkies and most recently, a wonderfully smart and loving Havanese. She will always be missed. The old saying is 'you get seven good dogs and two good horses' in your lifetime. We have yet to replace our 'Alesandra de Blue', our Havanese.


What is the funniest / strangest / scariest thing that ever happened in your store?

does not apply.


What is your favorite bookshop (other than your own)?

Any bookshop anywhere in the world. The first thing I do in planning a trip is to arrive in time so that my target bookstores are open. I love them all.


What do you personally like to read? Collect?

Both, I'm an avid reader of almost anything in print, but my preference are spy and murder mystery novels. Collecting wise I like to buy what I read and enjoy.


What's your favorite book you personally own? Would you sell it, if the price were right?

I have been collected first edition, first issue, signed novelists that I really like. Le Carre, Faulkner, Elizabeth George, and the Queen of mystery (at least for me), P. D. James, and several others. They will go to someone after I'm no longer around. Some things that are important, at least to me, would not be sold by me for profit.


What one book would you buy if price were no object?

William Caxton's first book printed in English in 1473, "The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye".


If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring three books, what would they be?

A Latin, Greek, English Dictionary of Words and Phrases that includes the rules for each; The Concise Anthology of American Literature; The Anthology of Philosophy that includes Logic and Reason.