Infinite Riches: The Adventures of a Rare Book Dealer

by David Bickersteth Magee

First edition. Excellent biography by this American bookseller. Presentation on free endpaper "For David Belch, with the warm regards of his friend the author, David Magee, June 1973." xiii, 274 pages. cloth, dust jacket.. 8vo..

Genres: Books About Books, Memoir

274 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant and enjoyable.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very decent memoir of a bookseller, published in 1973. Magee was born and raised in London, and he moved to California in order to become a farmer. He soon realized that he knew nothing about farming and instead got a job in a book store. After a few years, he started his own shop, and the rest is history. It is remarkable that he was about to survive the Great Depression, which began shortly after he started his own business. I would have liked to hear more about his business practices, since such success is by no means to be taken for granted.

The memoir focuses on book-related events, many of them standard kinds of yarns in this genre: the big one that got away, how I landed an incredible library no one had known about, crazy customers I have known, how I found a Gutenberg bible (or whatever) for 50 cents in a bookstall, and so on. He writes well and engagingly, and no section overstays its welcome. (Unlike another reviewer, I didn’t notice much information about how to determine the value of books.) It is also interesting to read about collectors who are desperate to complete their collections of authors who are no longer much read, or who are even completely unknown now. Sic transit gloria.

Missing are personal details of his life (including apparent marriages and divorces) and thoughts about the trade as a whole. I read bookseller memoirs as a kind of hobby, and I’m glad I read this one. It is entertaining, though not eye-opening. Other readers who share this interest will also find it worthwhile. Those who are not already confirmed readers of the genre should probably start elsewhere first.

There is one weird thing about the book, namely its jacket. The cover unsurprisingly shows a photographed shelf of leather bound books. Out of idle curiosity, I tried to see what the books are. But the titles are strangely obscured. On the back, there are somewhat implausible blobs that make the titles and authors impossible to read. Maybe the book spines were actually scuffed, but I’m a bit dubious. On the front, however, the books have little orange x’s printed over the titles. Eh?? What possible issue could prevent the mere title of antiquarian books from appearing on the jacket? They’re not under copyright. That is a puzzler.

[phil breidenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy books about book collectors, scouts and sellers. Magee has lots of interesting stories about the trade and the people involved. Printed in 1973, it tells about a completely different "book world" than we have today!

[John Dunbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a Good read. As is always the case with books about books, some chapters were better than others but overall it was worth the time.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in learning a bit more about the hobby of book collection, be it newer or a antique. Many good recollections by the author of his experiences in the professional end of the business. It is quite well written and easy to read. Holds interest well. Much interesting information on recognizing value of books, both old and newer.