Going to Gallaghers!

On my recent book hunting foray in the Denver metro area, I found my way to a second wonderful used bookseller.  Gallagher Books was tucked in a section of older commercial stores in an antique sellers zone on Denver’s South Broadway Street.  I was coming from a different section of the Denver metro area but depended on the trusty GPS navigation in my “semi” smart phone to get me there!  And a good job I must of done because I never once was subject to a “recalculating!!” admonition!

Gallagher Books is a very well organized store which is owned and operated by two of the nicest folks you could meet anywhere.  Don and Sue Gallagher were very friendly and helpful from the minute I walked in the door.  Don was busy negotiating a buy from some folks but Sue took me right back to the nature and science sections and answered all of my questions about where certain types might be shelved.

So I began perusing the selection and what to my wondering eye should appear?  A very hard to find treatment on the writings of the great natural historian and conservationist Aldo Leopold!  Thinking Like a Mountain by Susan Flader was a book I had on my list of “Aldo’s to collect” but over the last three years and at least 50 used bookstores, had never seen in any condition.  And this copy was in fine condition with a dust jacket in fine condition and a mylar cover!  When I opened it up and saw that it was $40, I winced but kept it in my hands while I continued to search the nature section and thought about whether or not “the market would bear it.”

Then, not much further down the stack, what jumps up but a copy of Leopold’s Round River.  The book was in very good condition and had a decent dust jacket on it will just a minimum of wear.   I racked my brain but simply could not remember for certain if I had this book in the cases back home.   So it became necessary to go out to the car and consult the master list of “BOLO” books!  I went up to the counter and set the copy of Thinking Like a Mountain down and told Don, “Well this one is really 'dear' but I don’t know when I’ll see it again.  There is another one there that I am considering but I need to go look at my master list in the car.”  He laughed and said “Well how much is the “dear one?”  “Forty bucks” I replied.  He laughed again and said “Well go check your list and when you come back in we will see what we can do.”

So I went out and checked the list.  Round River was not on there but I still wasn’t sure that I had it.  I guess when you buy enough books in too short of a time frame you are bound to have less than stellar recall.  At least that’s how I convince myself that it is not age-related forgetfulness!   I decided I would get both and if I ended up already having a copy of Round River that I would donate it to the silent auction of an organization I am part of.

Returning to the store, I went back to the stack and brought the second Leopold up and got ready to check out.  Don considered both and said “How about $45 for both?”  How could a natural history bibliophile retired wildlifer guy pass that up?  I normally will not try to negotiate price with a used bookseller unless there is a condition issue that I think renders a pricing too high.  But I appreciated Don’s willingness to give me a bit of a break.  Especially since I had just come from the Hermitage Book Shop where I had dropped $40 for another tome!

Gallagher Books has quite a large number of books and is still selectively an active buyer.    They also have a good stock of rare prints, posters, and library antiques.  They are members of both the Antiquarian Book Sellers Association (ABBA) and the Rocky Mountain Antiquarian Booksellers Association (RMABA). Their book complement is online and can be wandered through from the convenience of your computer.  But doing so will lessen the serendipitous finding of a treasure like I did and you won’t get to directly interact with Don or Sue!  And that is part of the true pleasure of wandering into and around such a fine store.

Gallagher Books

1428 South Broadway

Denver, CO 80210

(303)756-5821 or 1-866-425-5225

http://www.gcbooks.com/

Hours:  Mon-Sat: 10:30 am -5:30 pm.  Sun: noon-5 pm.  Jan-May: Tues by appointment only