Thursday, February S, 1976
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Three
Thursday, February 5, 1976 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Three
New bookshop opens
on city's west side
By LOU MOORE
Among the large and diverse
choice of bookstores in Ann
Aribor is the West Side Book-
shop on West Liberty Street. It
arrived on the scene last Sep-
tember, and offers an unusual
variety of used and rare' books.
Owners Jay Platt and Frank
Misplan have put together an
assortment of books that span
interests ranging from philoso-
phy and literature to travel and
gardening.
PLATT SAYS he has "been
interested in used books for
about the past six years." He
has also admired the beautiful,
old building which his shop now
occupies. He previously work-
ed at David's books and when
the old store became available,
he went into business for him-
self.
Platt says he started out with
1,200 books. He now has close
to 7,000, and expects to eventu-
ally stock around 15,000 books.
This is 'about average for
this kind of bookstore," he
claims.
The value of used or rare
books, says Platt, is based on
the demand and condition of
the book, noting that "it's not
true that rare books are expen-
sive, a lot that are rare have
no value."
USED BOOKSTORES also gain
popularity because they possess
volumes that are now out of
print as well as books that
represent the betterbworkman-
ship of the past. "About 60%-
70% of the books in the store
are out of print," says Platt.
According to Platt, it's hard
to predict the future worth of
a book. "Dealers are getting
outrageous prices for (F. Scott)
Fitzgerald first editions" and
these prices "may go down, al-
though it's hard to say," he
said.
There are alsostandard books
or sets which are always in de-
mand. The Encyclopedia Brit-
annica's eleventhedition, dat-
ing from about 1910, is an ex-
ample. Strong in the humanities,
this edition is "still a standard
reference work in many areas"
savs Platt.
BUST JACKETS and theirl
condition play an important part
in the appraisal of a used book. out.
Platt says a Fitzgerald first ed- He described the textbook
ition can have its value boost- publishing business as a "rack-
ed five times if it has the or- et" because the numerous edit-
iginal dust jacket. ions are often meant to keep
the price high.
According to Platt dust jack- The West Side Bookshop also
ets were introduced around the buys used and rare books, and
turn of the century to serve they conduct a free search for
only a functional purpose. They anyone seeking a volume not
were plain brown paper and obtainable in the area.
were usually discarded, making--
such jackets very rare.
THE COMIC OPERA GUILD
~'OFFENDACH'S PRLSI T'S
IA BELLE
HELENE
OPERETTA IN ENGLISH
FEBRUARY 4 5 6 7 LYDIA MENDELSSOHN THEATRE
EVENINGS: $3.50 MATINEE: $2.50 TICKET INFORMATION:763-1085
I
ui~hUI~lhII1UtI~II11~ tTa
"About 99% of all books go
down in price," says Platt, but
there are exceptions. One vol-
ume at West Side bookshop by
Jack Kerouac that was publish-
ed in 1962 and sold for $3.95,
was available for a dollar two
years later, but now is worth
$30.
OBSCURE, BUT "GOOD" au-
thors are most likely to increase
in value. He adds that he "does-
n't know any rich bookdealers.
A dealer must enjoy books and
being around them."
Platt prides the collection
which he has assembled and
selectively chooses the books, or
"prizes" which he wants for his I
shop.
He says that "used bookstores
definitely reflect the tastes of
the bookdealer." Being no ex-
ception, Platt has a number of
volumes on his interests, (ships
and arctic exploration) and a
generous selection of books by
Jack London. He likes to havei
literary classics in stock, but
says that very popular books
such as vintage Kennedy as-
sassination books "are hard to
keep in stock," which is dis-
concertingafter having accom-
plished the objective of finally
obtaining one of these "prize"
volumes.
PLATT SAYS NOVELS and
scholarly books sell quite well,
with business and economics
books less popular. Old text-
books are not especially in high
demand and attain a lesser val-
ue than many other categories
because of the numerous and
frequent new editions that come
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Centennial celibate
This handsome creature is named "Lonesome George." He is a Pinta Island tortoise
and the sole survivor of his subspecis. Before him is a life span of another hundred
years which he faces without either male or female companionship.
Bar Association refuses to
take stand in gag order battle
WASHINGTON (AP) - With
a showdown coming in its own
ranks about the issue of free
press and fair trial, the Ameri-
can Bar Association has decid-
ed to stay out of a battle over
the question in the Supreme
Court.
from news media representa-
tives recommend against issu-I
ance of any orders imposing
direct restraints on the press
They also spell out procedures
to be followed by judges if they
feel restrictive orders are nec-
essary.
and has been sentenced to
death.
ALTHOUTH the Nebraska
order is the first to receive full-
scale review in the Supreme
Court, the Reporters Commit-
tee for Freedom of the Press
has said it knows of 174 cases
Lewis Jewelers Annual Anniversary Sale
FEBRUARY 5, 6, & 7
Thursday & Friday: 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
COME and CELEBRATE!
Jewelry 20% OFF Watchbands, 15% OFF
All Silverplate, 20% OFF Clocks, 10% OFF
Gifts, 10% OFF All Charms, 20% OFF
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Fine Crystal, 15% OFF Wall Plaques, 10% OFF
Selected Candles, 50% OFF Sculptures, 15% OFF
SILVER JEWELRY, 25% OFF
Selected Brand Name Selected Brand Name
Electric Watches Diamond Watches
30% OFF 40% OFF
HALLMARK CARDS
FREE PARKING REFRESHMENTS
Maple Village Shopping Center-994-5111
across from Fox Village Theatre
The ABA Board of Governors AN ABA SPOKESPERSON involving
vetoed a proposal by the or- said the Board of Governors the past
ganization's Committee on Fair decided last week against sub-
Trial and Free Press to file mitting the brief on grounds
a brief as a "friend of the that it added nothing to the;
court" in a case arising out of arguments the court already has
a Nebraska mass murder. before it.
THE COMMITTEE'S brief The court is expected to hear
would have reflected proposed arguments in March in the Ne-
guidelines which it had drawn braska case, in which the State
uein November for submission Supreme Court upheld an order
up A b orisy-min limiting what the news media
to the ABA's policy-making could report in advance of the
Delegate Assembly at its meet- murder trial of Erwin Charles
ing in Philadelphia Feb. 16 and SmrdertriloEwnChre
17Simants.
Simants was convicted last
The guidelines, revised after month of slaying six members
running into strong opposition of a Sutherland, Neb., family
For-UNIVERSITY of MICHIGAN
Students, Faculty and immediate family only
FREEPORT
BAHAMAS
Spring Break March 6-13, 1976
ONE WHOLE WEEK
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" Meal and beverages in flight 0 Accommodations at THU
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Phone: Pete Savoie-764-0845 or
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Appearing at
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FEBRUARY 8
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HIKING BOOTS
by
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Men's
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* Women's
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It's a thermogram-a picture of heat patterns in breast
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