York Countians Have Always Loved to Buy Books
This week marks the 10th annual Book Blast at the York County Heritage Trust Agricultural & Industrial Museum, 217 West Princess Street. Thousands and thousands of gently used books are available at very low prices. There is also a specially priced section of hard-to-find and books on local history and genealogy, including some nice collectible editions. Also featured for the second year is a selection of picture frames, including some real treasures.
A limited number of the three-volume (plus searchable CD) boxed set of York County Chronicles will also be available at the bargain price of $39.95. This special edition of hard-cover Never to be Forgotten, Patterns of Our Past and Builders and Heroes was produced for the 250th anniversary of York County and orginally sold for $95. Click here for Jim McClure’s recent blog post describing the set in more detail.
Book Blast is open to the public August 12-14. See the flier above for hours and book pricing. As a benefit of membership, York County Heritage Trust members have the opportunity to shop from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday August 11. If you aren’t a member yet, YCHT staff will be available at AIM to take your membership Wednesday evening, offering immediate admission to Book Blast.
What books were York County people buying 180 years ago? John F. Osterloh, whose bookstore was near the square on South George Street, advertised his new arrivals constantly in the York newspapers. See below for his ad from the August 31, 1830 York Republican for a small sampling of his offerings:
NEW BOOKS
The subscriber has received the following works. Book of Health, Memoir on the treatment of venereal diseases without mercury. The Humorist, a collection of entertaining Tales, Anecdotes. Cooper, the scholars’ assistant on plain system of arithmetic. Falkland, a novel by the authors of Pelham. Goldsmith’s Animated Nature, 4 vol., new edit. Buck’s Theological Dictionary, new edit. Geographical Cards. The North American Medical and Surgical Journal. Also an assortment of Law Books of the latest publication.
JOHN F. OSTERLOH
Click the links below for more on York County booksellers of the past.
More Osterloh offerings.
Welsh’s stock included English and German Family Bibles as late as 1902.
William Goodridge included toy books in his stock.
