Old Stories
A never-ending used-book store, with hidden bargains
Photo: Morgan Ione Yeager
J
ust across the street from the St. Mary’s T stop, little noticed among trendy restaurants and bars, the Boston Book Annex holds a hidden gem deep in its maze of aisles: a room devoted to bargain books that includes a selection of fine, rare, and unusual volumes on topics ranging from Shakespeare to the insects of Hong Kong, most for between one and three bucks. In all, this unexpectedly expansive used-book store has 100,000 books—some in worn leather, many with that distinctive smell of dusty, aged literature, and all looked after by the two resident cats. There’s a second location in Jamaica Plain called the Boston Book Company with rare books only. Arpie
Shhhh! On nice days, be sure to
browse the separate bargain racks outside.
browse the separate bargain racks outside.
Shhhh! The Book Annex also buys books,
and has an appraisal service.
and has an appraisal service.
Shhhh! Don’t have time to stop by the store?
You can check out the entire inventory online.
You can check out the entire inventory online.
Shhhh! Owners Charles Vilnis and Helen Kelly
are an expert in the field of Japanese printing
and a former governor of the Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association of America, respectively.
are an expert in the field of Japanese printing
and a former governor of the Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association of America, respectively.
Shhh who knew
Do some of the books in the Boston Book Annex look familiar? That's because the store supplies the books used on the sets of many of the movies and TV shows shot in Boston.
Boston Book Annex/Boston Book Company
705 Centre St.
Jamaica Plain,
MA,
02130
617.522.2100
Find on a map|Get directions.
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906 Beacon St.
Boston,
MA,
02215
617.266.1090
Find on a map|Get directions.
These lines serve the Book Annex Click to find more secrets on your route.
37 Bus, 39 Bus, 41 Bus, 47 Bus, Fenway/Green Line D, St. Mary's/Green Line C
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Get directions to the Book Annex. by T.
Find more secrets like Bargain books, Collectibe books, Collectibles, Rare books, Used books
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Find more secrets in Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Kenmore Square
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Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Jamaica Plain 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Jamaica Plain 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
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