An interview with John Thompson

Biblio checks in with John Thompson to learn more about their book business, collecting interests and more! To view and shop their inventory, click here.

When did you get started in bookselling?

Around 1990.

What drew you to bookselling?

Collected comics as a teen, and still do, but I got interested in books as I got older. While a student in university I often consigned my old text books in at the student book exchange on campus. I got the idea one day that I could make some extra income on literature and classics that I find at garage sales and the like, and consign them. That is how I started selling books.

What are your specialties as a dealer?

Literature, classics, scholarly, unusual non fiction, vintage paperbacks.

What's the most amazing book you've ever sold?

Had a first edition of Homage to Catalona by Orwell in dust jacket which I went for a nice price some years ago.

What is your favorite part of being a bookseller?

Hunting for books and doing some sale events.

Do you have an open storefront or have you in the past?

No.

What do you personally like to read? Collect?

Love reading, usually science fiction, fantasy, literature, some mystery or crime novels I collect certain vintage paperbacks, either of authors I like or of certain publishers. I also collect comics, those by Carl Barks and some silver age Marvel titles.

What's your favorite book you personally own? Would you sell it, if the price were right?

Hard to pick favorites, but I have the Ace Double of Junkie by William S. Burroughs, the first edition of his first book.

What one book would you buy if price were no object?

A British first edition of the first Harry Potter.