The Very First Book...

No... not the book of the dead...

Rather, most probably a little something on astrology (aren't dime-a-dozen horrorscope authors proud...) penned by a well-known name of the day, for the whole endeavour spawned a LEGEND, nothing less!

8/14/1457 The first book ever printed was published by a German astrologer named Faust. He was thrown in jail while trying to sell books in Paris. Authorities concluded that all the identical books meant Faust had dealt with the devil.

There are several things to conclude from this bit of historical trivia, I do believe...

"Authorities", whatever time or era that they are ruling in, make oftentimes the most obtuse calls and know, all in all, not that much...

Printing owes something to astrology, I suppose...

And Faust might just have struck a deal, indeed - but not to print multiple copies of his hogwash, no! Overall, his true story is miles away from the tormented epics weaved by Marlowe, Goethe and others...

Still, the astrologer who wound up in jail in 1457 is not the assumed basis for the legendary tale - because the "Faust we know" and hopefully do not love at all "is widely assumed to be based on the figure of the German magician and alchemist Dr. Johann Georg Faust (approximately 1480–1540), a dubious magician and alchemist probably from Knittlingen, Württemberg, who obtained a degree in divinity from Heidelberg University in 1509."

Despite such a "degree" (entirely disputable too, I would say) he had garnered quite a bad reputation for being such a huckster and a scoundrel. He he was also in prison (what a surprise) and, while there, in exchange for wine he "offered to show a chaplain how to remove hair from his face without a razor; the chaplain provided the wine and Faustus provided the chaplain with a salve of arsenic, which removed not only the hair but the flesh."

It is no wonder that "the name of "Faust" has since become attached to any number of legendary tales about a charlatan alchemist (some claim "astrologer and necromancer"), whose pride, vanity, and vile hucksterism would inevitably lead to his doom"

Makes one wonder if book publishers today are all to be viewed as proud and vain hucksters and crooks too? Or worse still...! Hmm... Food for thought! ;) 

sorry - so sorry... heh-heh  ;-) 

Could not resist including 

old favorite FAUSTO... PAPETTI! 

The Greatest

Aye, it is deserving of the title of "greatest bookstore that ever was" on the merits of its concept alone. But, as I alluded to on Twitter, wouldn't it be just the PERFECT store if it brought this great concept onto a set-up such as this one? Alas, such places want to make you pay for all that comfort (they'd charge you for the very air you breathe, if they could!) so you can forget about any such sweet deals and atmosphere there...!)

As things are, this only serves as further evidence that, in order to get everything you really want at the best possible prices, you have to shop at various locations - always. No one place can truly claim to be "the one-stop shopping venue" for whatever it may be! You have to visit several shops in order to find each and every one of the five major elements that will make you finally BUY: quality, suitable quantity (for your tastes and needs), a great shopping experience, good service (before, during and sometimes after the sale) and, most importantly of all of these elements, the right price!

In this particular case, the shop takes a huge risk and gambles that most (if not all) book lovers will be honest enough and/or have enough of a heart in order to contribute something in return for the freedom to "help yourself" to any and all books readily available there...

Thank God for altruistic used books peddlers, I guess...?

May one set up shop in your area soon - for however long as possible!

Add a comment...

Kit Whelan · Maryland
According to the internet, it's the Paradox Bookstore in Wheeling, WV. http://twentytwowords.com/​2011/08/11/bookstore-wants​-you-to-read-you-can-pay-l​ater%E2%80%A6or-not%E2%80%​A6whatever/

Andi Chrisman · School of Communication Arts
I was a bookseller at Borders, long before they had fallen. We were allowed to use the books like it was a library. I loved it! I often found myself buying books I otherwise wouldn't have, just because I got the chance to read more of it ahead of time. Good for them.

Sempre Por O Melhor

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