Around Atlanta: Atlanta Vintage Books

Last week I got a Scout Mob for Atlanta Vintage Books. I had never heard of this shop before and that is why I love things like Scout Mob! They introduce me to fantastic local places that I wouldn't otherwise know of. When I saw the words "vintage" and "books" I e-mailed my school teacher Mother-in-Law asap to see if she wanted to go with me. She is an avid children's book collector herself, so she was game!

Luckily, it is located not very far from us! Score! So I can definitely see myself visiting there often. I contacted the owners before I went to get permission to take photos for my blog, to spread the word about their store. They were totally okay with it and were the sweetest folks! They are so warm and welcoming and you can tell they very, very much love books. 

It is quite something seeing all of these old books together in one place. There's definitely a sense of history when you walk around. And the shop has a lived-in feel to it, much like the feeling of walking around someone's attic or when you're looking for treasures at estate sales - you sense there's a story that comes with every book. If you are used to thrift store, flea market and estate sale adventures, you're used to that dusty, sometimes moldy experience when looking through old books. It is no different in this place. But I find that charming.

Fair warning though: as an allergy sufferer, I need to point out that along with some dust, there are also cats. Lots of cats hanging about this place! Yet another charming aspect. I'm pretty allergic, but my sinuses weren't bothered while I was there. Needless to say, I didn't sit down on any furniture that could be covered in cat hair, so that helped. As long as I don't touch those cute furry guys and gals, I'm okay. But if you are highly allergic, I might steer clear (my husband actually gets very asthmatic just being in the same room with a cat. His throat closes up, not even touching them. Scary stuff!)

I of course made a beeline to the children's section. According to their website, they have one of the largest collections of rare and out-of-print Children's books in the Southeast. I was especially drawn to the mystery series collections they had from the 60's, including the Nancy Drew series. Would you believe I've never read one Nancy Drew book? What a scandal, right? I loved the cover illustrations so much on the editions they had.

I don't really read a lot mostly due to lack of time. Since I'm a crafter at heart, I normally save my free time for making things, and of course blogging. ; ) But sometimes I feel like I'm really missing out not reading more. I always read the big ones like Twilight and Harry Potter (ha) and I'm even listening to the Hunger Games on audio. But truly, I need to read more. And honestly? After going to this bookstore, I'm really itching to read the Nancy Drew series.

Here's one of those charming kitties here... I think he was actually posing for me.

These were some of my favorite finds. I've seen books with these same kitschy puppet scenes. They are super cool. The covers had 3D holograms on them.

And this was the find of the day, a 1st edition printing of A Confederacy of Dunces, Ethan's favorite book ever. I have yet to read it, but people say it's a riot. A must-read.

As far as pricing goes at this store, it really depends on how rare the book is, what edition it is, etc. These aren't your thrift store prices folks. But they are deserving. These people know their books. The books that are priced really well, deserve to be priced that way, you know? So, no unfair mark-ups I don't think. I walked away with a cute little book for $5 that has some really cool illustrations by a Dutch artist, if I'm not mistaken. Will show photos soon.

What are you reading lately? Do you collect vintage books?

Be sure to follow Atlanta Vintage Books on Twitter, Facebook and they also have an online shop!

Comments

[arielle]

Wow, those books are beautiful! I would love to have a few for my collection.

[Abby]

oh man! i love this! totally eye candy :)

[rae]

wow! we are driving through atlanta on our way to florida next week and i'm really tempted to stop and check out their jr. deluxe editions. i collect them. what were the prices like? I'm afraid I'm too used to estate sale prices!

[jesse.anne.o]

I had that Shirley Temple Black book and some of the Cherry Ames' ones as well. Very neat to see.

I used to collect Rosamond Du Jardin books but ended up giving them all away. Living in NYC and moving apts 3 years in a row made me appreciate the library.

[Stacy]

Wow is right. Super cool thx for sharing. PS I used to own those hologram books as a kid, loved em.

[pilgrim]

oooh a confederacy of dunces is my favorite too!! and my copy has the same cover! :D that ethan has good taste

[Hannah B.]

I had no idea such a place existed! I *must* go there when we get down to Atlanta again.
As always, your blog brightens my day and puts a smile on my face!
xo* ~Hannah B.

[Jeanette]

Soooo Many books!!! Soooo many I've read as a child and teen!!! Cherry Ames, one of the series I read that I don't see too often! Thanks for sharing, really makes me want to go out and look for more vintage books that are familiar to me....

[Natalia]

What a wonderful shop, I'd love to live there! <3

[Deb]

The Agatha Christie book! I had or maybe still have, that exact book.

I love books. I love cats. Edward Gory had an illustration that I have on a tee shirt. "Books. Cats. Life is good.", but I fully understand cats aren't everyone's cuppa. They do seem to go with the solitude that reading provides.

I used to prowl bookstores every week, but the to be read pile is so tall, if it ever falls over, one of my felines could be injured. I promised my daughter I would not enter a bookstore alone until the pile was halved.

I shall live vicariously through your marvelous photos.

[Beth]

Don't you just love a good vintage book store? I don't collect them because my house would probably become overun with them. However, I do remember loving those Nancy Drew books as a kid!

[Erin]

Oh how I envy this! As soon as I saw the Nancy Drew picture, I was so jealous! I have loved those books ever since I was little but I just now started collecting vintage ones. Mail me some! :)

[Pretty Posh Posies]

I have the 3d Puss In Boots book, and it's one of my favorites! I can look at the pictures over and over! :)

[domestic blogess]

I wish there was such a place in the UK I don't think I could ever leave that shop once I'd gone in!

[Greta]

In answer to your question, I do collect vintage books (like a first edition of the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam).
And as for what I'm reading, I guess I'm a professional reader, so long as I work in academe! But aside from those books, I like and need to read for pleasure, and am waiting on the following books to reach me via Amazon (so, in this case, they will be all new): Diane Keaton's Then Again, Jan Morris' Hav, and also a children's book: Beyond the Paw Paw Trees.
I love old books. It pains me as an expat that acquiring them (or even getting my old ones from my mother) will be very difficult when the time comes. Apparently, my grandmother wrote a children's book - by the way, that is why I am commenting, because of your affinity for children's books which I share!
My grandma published her book under a pen name, and my mother cannot remember what it was called. It was about a cat in New York City. Has anyone ever heard of it? It would, of course, only be available now as a vintage copy.
May I continue to gush praise for your blog - I don't comment every time, but so enjoy the posts.

[Heidi Jo]

I have some of those Junior Deluxe Edition books from when I was young. They're in my gal's room. But now that I see a bunch of them together, I want more. These are lovely!

[Bekka]

Love this!
And the first thing that popped into my head, when seeing that first photo of the Nancy Drew cover, was this: http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=278
http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=279

Have you seen any of her comics? She's so random, but she does a recurring strip where she takes a Nancy Drew book cover and "makes up" what the story is about. I think she'd have a good time with that first picture you posted, haha. :)

I love your blog! Keep up the awesome!!

[Leslie]

All these books...I would stay in here for DAYS!!

I DO collect Vintage books. I have no ideas what to do with them...but I love them. Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys {they were all mine} plue Trixie Belden, Annette Funicello, Patty Duke and a few others.