Bookmarks of the Bay Area Bookshops

Small collection of bookmarks of Bay Area used bookshops. Most have now gone but Moe's is still there on Telegraph in Berkeley and More Moe's is now on the 4th floor. Peter Howard's Serendipity in Berkeley went last year and is much missed. No bookmark found for that shop but may post one of his annual feast broadsides if it can be located...

Long Beach Bookmark

Long Beach bookshops from the 1960s including the long gone 'world famous 'Acres of Books' - probably the biggest bookshop in the world. At the time Long Beach was a sort of Hay on Wye of books, now all these shops have vanished and several others not on this bookmark like the Book Baron.

How to open a book

From a collection of bookmarks found in Berkeley California. Probably from about 1910. J.H. Furst of Baltimore is still in business as a printer having 'opened their doors' in 1904.
It is possible their books were subject to cracking especially when new but the instructions seem slightly fussy by today's standards although any violence towards a book is still, of course, abhorrent.

BOOK MARK TWO SUGGESTIONS HOW TO OPEN A NEW BOOK   STAND the book, back downward, on a table or smooth surface. Press the front cover down until it touches the table, then the back cover, holding the leaves in one hand while you open a few of the leaves at the back, then at the front, alternately pressing them down gently until you reach the center of the volume. This should be done two or three times. Never open a book violently nor bend back the covers. It is likely not only to break the back but also to loosen the leaves. HOW TO CARE FOR A BOOK   THE covers of a new binding are likely to warp while seasoning. This warping may be prevented by placing the book under weight while it is not in use, or wedging tightly between other books on the shelf. J.H. FURST COMPANY BALTIMORE, MARYLAND