“Used Books and Guns” — 1967
Just your typical Texas bookshop….
by Paula Bosse
In honor of my father’s birthday, I give you this great illustration by M. Sasek from his book This Is Texas, an amusing children’s book featuring a tour around Texas. The above is one of the offerings from San Antonio, and it’s accompanied by the following caption:
“San Antonio bookstore. There is all you need if you want to start a long literary argument — or to end one quickly.”
(I don’t know what bookshop this was, but it was real. If anyone knows its identity, please let me know!)
As this book was in my house growing up, I’m sure my father — a bookseller with a great sense of humor and an enthusiasm for firearms — must have seen this and laughed — and seriously considered whether the used books-and-guns combo-shop was feasible.
UPDATE: Thanks to my old friend Rodney H., I now have this photo to post here. I don’t know the source of this photo or where it was taken, but it certainly looks like Sasek’s illustration! (See them side by side, here.) Thanks, Rod!
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Miroslav Sasek (1916-1980) was a Czech author and illustrator best known for his fantastic “This Is…” series of books, many of which have been reprinted. More on Sasek here and here.
A previous post I wrote about my father, Dick Bosse, owner of The Aldredge Book Store, is here.
Yes, there WAS a similar bookstore envisioned in a “King of the Hill” episode; read about it here.
I love this book, and even though it was reprinted in 2006, I think it is out-of-print again. There are several for sale here (I’d avoid the copies listed as “fair” or “good.” And make sure you get a dust jacket!)
Click picture for larger image.
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Copyright © 2015 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
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