Archive-name: books/stores/ship-by-mail

Last change:
Mon Mar 25 10:16:42 EST 1996

This is a listing of *physical stores* which ship worldwide.  Steve
Brock (brock@ucsub.colorado.edu) maintains a list of "Internet stores";
if you do not have a physical store that customers can visit, please
contact him rather than me.

This cannot possibly be all-inclusive, so I will probably limit it to
the major stores in each area of specialization and in each country.
(Preference is given to stores with email addresses.)  To keep the
length down, I have omitted lengthy descriptions of the physical
store.  If you want to know what these are like to visit, check the
various bookstore-by-city FAQs that are posted *quarterly* and
available from rtfm.mit.edu.

NOTE: DUE TO THEIR SIZE, THE MAIN BOOKSTORE LISTINGS WILL BE POSTED
QUARTERLY.

In general, I am not listing mail-order-only places unless they have an
area of specialization one is unlikely to find elsewhere (since I'm
compiling this from the regular bookstore FAQs).  Steve Brock
(brock@ucsu.Colorado.edu) maintains a list of bookstores and mail-order
companies with Internet access.

Copies of this article may be obtained by anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu
under /pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/ship-by-mail.Z.  Or, send
email to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with "send
usenet/news.answers/books/stores/ship-by-mail" in the body of the
message.

The companion listings for bookstores may be found in:
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/asian.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/european/misc.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/european/uk.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/bay-area.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/eastern.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/midwestern.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/northern.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/nyc.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/socal.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/southwestern.Z
	/pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/western.Z
or requested via email with "send X" in the body of the mail, with X being
one of the following:
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/asian
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/european/misc
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/european/uk
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/bay-area
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/eastern
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/midwestern
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/northern
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/nyc
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/socal
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/southwestern
	usenet/news.answers/books/stores/north-american/western

Contents of this list:

General__________________________       Computer_______________________
   WordsWorth Books, Cambridge MA          Book Scientific, New York NY
   Svoboda's, State College PA             Reiter's Scientific and Techn.
   The Tattered Cover, Denver CO              Bookstore, Washington DC
   Powell's City of Books, Portland OR     Quantum Books, Cambridge MA
   Cody's, Berkeley CA
   Moe's, Berkeley CA
   Books Canada, Ottawa ON (Canada)
   Duthie's, Vancouver BC (Canada)
   Heffers Booksellers, Cambridge (UK)
   ABC-Buecher & Medienversand,
      Regensburg (Germany)

Science Fiction______________________   Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual__________
   Dangerous Visions, Sherman Oaks CA      A Different Light Bookstore, 
   Other Change of Hobbit, Berkeley CA        New York NY
   Future Fantasy, Palo Alto CA            A Different Light Bookstore, 
   DreamHaven Books, Minneapolis MN           West Hollywood CA
   Science Fiction Shop, New York, NY      Giovanni's Room, Philadelphia PA
   At the Sign of The Dragon, London (UK)  Lambda Rising, Washington DC
   Andromeda Bookshop, Birmingham (UK)
   [Mystery] Murder One, London (UK)

Children's_______________________       Theater_____________________
   Children's Book & Music Center,         French's Theatre Bookshop, 
      Santa Monica CA                         London (UK)

Academic_____________________________   Religion___________________________
   Seminary Coop. Bookst., Chicago IL      Pinsker's Bookstore,
   Hatchards, Kingston, Surrey (UK)           Pittsburgh PA
                                           Jerusalem Books Ltd, (Israel)
                                           Hackman's Bible Book Store, Inc.
                                              Whitehall PA
Art__________________________________ 
   Hacker Art Books (New York NY

[Note 1: I collected these comments from a variety of people.  I personally
have no knowledge of many of these places and take no responsibility if you
buy a book you don't enjoy.  :-)]

[Note 2: This listing is divided by category.]

[Note 3: I have attempted to indicate what time zone the store is in by
listing an offset from GMT/UTC.  This may be off by an hour if I read the
map wrong, or in the summer when Daylight Savings Time/Summer Time may or
may not be in effect.]

[Note 4: From Ian Feldman (ianf@random.se): "I'll have to reevaluate the
	sanity of ordering non-hardbacks from the USA.  I had 6 books sent
	from WordsWorth recently, 3 bestseller and 3 trade paperbacks (of
	which 2 were "special order" and took 4--6 weeks to appear in the
	bookstore), of a nominal value of US$55, but the total cost to me,
	after postage and Swedish custom duties have been paid, was close
	to US$110.  For the bestseller items cost per-book was more than
	what I'd be paying here over the counter."

[Note 5: There is a well-known mail-order company, Edward R. Hamilton,
	Falls Village CT 06031-5000 (no street or post office box), which
	deals in remaindered books.  You cannot request specific books, but
	they send out a catalog every month or so and their prices are very
	good.  I don't know if they ship overseas, but if you are ouside
	the US and write and ask for a catalog and they don't send you one,
	they probably don't.  Paul Andresen (paula@koufax.cv.hp.com) reports
	further:

	"A few weeks back, in one of our periodic Edward R. Hamilton
	discussions, it seemed like no one knew of their physical location.
	Francis Muir cynically figured their mailing address was nothing
	more than a post office drop.

	Since I was about to drive through Connecticut on a business trip,
	I decided to check the place out.  ERH's mailing address is "Falls
	Village, CT", a tiny town in the extreme Northwest corner of Conn.

	I arrived in the town, a classic quaint New England village of
	probably a few hundred souls, and a one block long business
	district.  I bopped into the city hall, and asked.  "Yes indeed,
	ERH does exist, and is the town's largest employer, with some 50
	people on the payroll", the very nice woman behind the counter tells
	me, "but they only do mail order."  She told me where to find the
	place ("Back down the highway, just across from the sawmill")

	I retraced my steps, and sure enough, there it was.  It consists of
	several barn/warehouse type buildings, surrounded by a tall wooden
	fence.  About as anonymous as you can imagine.  The *only*
	identifying mark is a tiny sign, about 1" high letters on the mail
	box. 

	I stood up on the hood of my car, with camera, and snapped a shot
	of the place, but in looking over the result, it could be a set of
	out buildings most anywhere in America.

	Anyway, in the true BLUE HIGHWAYS sense, the journey was much more
	interesting than the destination.  That's some mighty pretty country
	to drive through.  I do love New England in the spring, but not much
	at all in the winter."

============================================================================
General (see also Academic):

WordsWorth Books (30 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA 02138-3761,
	800-899-2202 or +1-617-354-4223, FAX +1-617-354-4674,
	info@wordsworth.com).  The flag-ship of Harvard Square book
	shops with 100,000+ titles.  Has been offering their book store
	service through e-mail for quite a while.  "Their staff have
	managed to locate and send many books for me (in Sweden) via UPS
	Express at costs equal or less than buying at a real store
	(hardcovers especially).  What's more, the book search costs only
	one dollar.  Their collection is really huge, too."  Mon-Sat
	8:30AM-11:30PM, Sun 10AM-10:30PM).  GMT-5h

Svoboda's Books (227 W Beaver Ave, State College PA, +1-814-237-6171,
	svobooks@aol.com).  "Heavy emphasis on academic (philosophy,
	criticism, etc.) and technical (science and computers)."  Ships
	worldwide.  Mon-Wed 9AM-7PM, Thu-Fri 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM,
	Sun 11AM-5PM.  GMT-5h

The Tattered Cover (2955 East First Avenue, Denver CO 80206, [mail address
	is Tattered Cover Bookstore, 1536 Wynkoop, Denver CO 80202],
	800-833-9327 or +1 303-322-7727, TT/V (303) 320-0536,
	FAX +1 303-399-2279, books@tatteredcover.com [for individual
	ordering], corporate@tatteredcover.com [for corporate ordering]).
	Huge--4 floors.  Over 400,000 books in stock.  Considered to be
	the best independent bookstore in the U.S.  Also ships worldwide.
	Free gift-wrapping.  Hours: 9:30AM - 9PM M-Sat; 10-6 Sun.  GMT-7h

Powell's City of Books (main store) (1005 W Burnside, Portland OR,
	+1 503-228-4651, FAX +1 503-228-4631).  Truly a national treasure,
	one of the wonders of Portland.  Powell's has new and used books by
	the millions.  Its depth and coverage exceeds most large-city
	libraries.  Ships worldwide.  To receive an automated reply on how
	to browse the technical books database via email, send any message
	to ping@technical.powells.portland.or.us.  GMT-8h

Cody's (2454 Telegraph, Berkeley CA +1 510-845-7852).  "One of the two
	stores in the Bay area I hold up as the definition of the
	term 'bookstore.' (The other is Kepler's in Menlo Park.)"
	A very large selection of just about everything
	(foreign-language books on Dwight just west of Telegraph).
	"Cody's is the only book store in the Bay Area with a
	significant selection of books on various subjects that
	interest me (including Judaica, system dynamics and whitewater
	maps).  It is true that it isn't as good as it was when Fred Cody
	was alive ... but it's still a damn good store." There is even a
	book about Cody's: CODY'S BOOKS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BERKELEY
	BOOKSTORE, 1956-1977, by Pat and Fred Cody (it was described in
	an article in the August 3, 1992 issue of "Publishers Weekly").
	Will ship worldwide.  Sun-Thu 9:15AM-9:45PM, Fri-Sat
	9:15AM-10:45PM.  GMT-8h

Moe's (2476 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley CA, +1 510-849-2087,
	moesbooks@delphi.com, http://moesbooks.com/moe.htm).  Mostly used
	and antiquarian books.  Around for over 25 years, they are one of
	the largest bookstores of their kind.  Has a variety of services.
	Will do book searches through their email address.  Will ship
	worldwide.  GMT -8h.

Books Canada (71 Sparks Street, Ottawa ON, Canada K1P 5A5, 613-236-0629,
	FAX 613-236-6526, 72072.3203@compuserve.com) "Located a block away
	from Parliament Hill.  Established mid-size independent bookstore
	with a large selection specializing in new books from the Canadian
	perspective (politics, history, economics, biography, giftbooks,
	literature, etc).  Very knowledgeable and helpful staff.  Extensive
	special order service."  They ship world-wide.

Duthie's (downtown: 919 Robson, Vancouver BC, Canada,
	Duthie_Books@Mindlink.BC.CA).  Good all-purpose bookstore; new
	books.  Mentioned by posters as one of Canada's best bookstores.
	They also will do searches for out-of-print books and ship
	worldwide.  GMT-8h
 
Heffers Booksellers (20 Trinity Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom CB2 3NG,
	+44 1 223 568568; FAX +44 1 223 410464).  Cambridge's answer to
	Blackwells.  They also own Deighton, Bell and Co. and the
	Children's Bookshop.  Heffers issues catalogues in a variety of
	fields, and they are really outstanding about mail order.  They
	accept Visa and Mastercard; they will also open accounts for
	customers and accept payment in dollars.  GMT
ABC-Buecher & Medienversand (Junker-Str. 7 D-93055 Regensburg,
	+49-(0)941-788788, FAX 0941/700213, btx: *TELEBUCH#,
        0941700100-0001@t-online.de, http://www.BookServe.com).  There is a
	catalogue CD-ROM (costs about US$20, with 340,000 German & 31,2000
	English/American titles (DOS & Windows versions!) available from
	them (updates: 4x/year).

============================================================================
Academic:

Seminary Cooperative Bookstore (Chicago Theological Seminary (58th Street
	and University Avenue, Chicago IL, 800-777-1456 or +1 312-752-1959).
	"Has a good theological section but its only connection with the
	Seminary is that it rents space from them.  It is, in my opinion,
	the best academic bookstore in the social sciences and humanities
	in the world, for English-language books at any rate.  Anyone can
	shop there, but members receive a 10% discount on most books and may
	special-order books from anywhere in the world.  Membership costs
	$30 (for three shares of stock)."  (Ask them for further details.)
	They will ship worldwide.  "Books arrive well-packaged and I've
	never gotten a damaged one."  GMT-6h

Hatchards (2 Brook Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom
	KT1 2HA, about 12 miles South West of central London,
	+44 1 81 546 7592; hatchards@kingston.ac.uk or
	dillons@kingston.ac.uk).  An academic bookshop serving Kingston
	University and other institutions in the Surrey and South West
	London area.  Part of the Dillons, Pentos group (hence the dual
	email address).  Will ship books worldwide and accepts credit cards
	(Visa, Master Card and Amex).  The email address is that of one
	employee's husband, so when they are on holiday, things will take
	longer.  [The email is being improved as of 3/95, but the Dillons
	chain has been bought out by someone else, so everything is in
	flux.]   GMT

============================================================================
Theater:

French's Theatre Bookshop (52 Fitzroy Street, London, United Kingdom
	W1P 6JR, +44 1 71 387 9373).  They have a very large selection of
	plays, recordings and related material.  If you are looking for an
	obscure play, they have it or can get it.  "I believe that they will
	do mail order as well.  Credit cards accepted."  GMT

============================================================================
Science Fiction and Mystery:

Dangerous Visions (13563 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks CA, +1 818-986-6963,
	http://www.primenet.com/~specfic/).  Science fiction, fantasy, and
	horror.  Interesting selection of used hardcovers in good condition.
	Gives 10% cash discount with purchase of "Club DV."  Publishes
	newsletter (available for $2.50/year).  Does mail order.  GMT-8h

Other Change of Hobbit (2020 Shattuck Avenue at University Avenue, Berkeley
	CA, +1 510-848-0413; danee@backdoor.com).  "An excellent selection
	of new SF, paperback and hardcover.  Plus, there's a decent
	selection of used SF, some used pulps, with an occasional
	outstanding collectible under the glass case in the back."  You can
	send them your want list and they will get back to you as things
	come in.  They ship worldwide.  GMT-8h

Future Fantasy (3705 El Camino, Palo Alto CA, +1 415-855-9771;
	futfan@netcom.com).  An excellent selection of new SF, fantasy, and
	mystery.  "Far and away my favorite bookstore for SF."  If you have
	access to a WWW client, it is accessible at http://www.futfan.com.
	"They have a great interface, including their complete catalog,
	newsletter, some cover shots, and forms to actually order stuff."
	Will ship worldwide.  GMT-8h

DreamHaven Books (1309 4th SE, Minneapolis MN, +1 612-379-8924,
	dreamhvn@icicle.winternet.com).  Truly fantastic new and used SF,
	fantasy, horror selection.  Accepts telephone credit card orders.
	Will ship worldwide.  GMT-6h?

Science Fiction Shop (168 Thompson btwn Houston and Bleeker, New York NY,
	+1 212-473-3010, FAX +1 212-475-9727).  The best selection of new
	SF books in town, and they have a used/half-price shelf.  Ships
	worldwide.  GMT-5h

Murder One (71-73 Charing Cross Road, just below Shaftesbury Avenue, 
	London, United Kingdom, +44-171-734-3483, FAX: +44-171-734-3429).
	Mystery and romance at street level, SF in the basement.  No SF
	merchandise--just books.  They also seem to have one or maybe two
	copies of many titles rather than dozens of a few.  A lot of them
	are imports so prices are higher than average--but well worth it if
	you are after that one elusive volume.  Probably the best source
	for new US SF hardbacks in London.  Staff is very helpful too.  They
	have a bookcase of second-hand books that are of *very* high
	quality.  Takes credit cards, will do mailorder.  GMT

At The Sign Of The Dragon (131, Sheen Lane, London, United Kingdom SW14,
	+44 1 81 876 3855; Mortlake BR station and walk south).  Run by
	Richard and Marion van der Voort, is a small shop with a good
	selection of titles.  They rival (often beat) Forbidden Planet in
	early stocking of titles, and are happy to reserve and special order
	books.  "A lot more friendly than FP!"  Will ship worldwide.  GMT

Andromeda Bookshop (84 Suffolk, B1 1TA, +44-121-643-1999,
	FAX +44-121-643-2001).  A science fiction specialist bookstore with
	many imports from the States.  It is regarded as one of the best SF
	stores in the whole UK.  Upstairs has a large second hand paperback
	section; also many fan magazines.  "The oldest specialist science
	fiction bookshop in the world [established 1971] and has the largest
	selection of science fiction/fantasy in Europe."

============================================================================
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual:

A Different Light Bookstore (548 Hudson, New York NY, +1 212-989-4850).
	Gay/lesbian/bisexual bookstore with 13,000 titles.  Does mail-order.
	GMT-5h

A Different Light Bookstore (8853 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood CA,
	+1 310-854-6601).  Gay/lesbian/bisexual.  A branch of the NYC shop.
	GMT-8h  [Note: I have not heard the status of this store after the
	1/17/94 quake.  If they are still operating, I urge you to support
	them with your business.]

Giovanni's Room (345 S 12th, Philadelphia PA 19107, +1 215-923-2960).  Gay,
	lesbian, and bisexual bookstore.  Started in 1973, it's one of the
	oldest in the country.  3500 square feet, stocking 20,000 titles.
	Has an exchange program with a lending library in Moscow (see 3/1/93
	PUBLISHERS WEEKLY for details).  GMT-5h

Lambda Rising (1625 Connecticut Ave NW, 800-621-6969 or +1 202-462-6969,
	lambdarising@his.com).  Gay, lesbian, and bisexual bookstore founded
	in 1974.  Stocks virtually every G/L/B book in print, plus a large
	out-of-print and used selection; book searches welcome.  Good-sized
	SF and mystery sections.  Also magazines, newspapers, videos, music,
	greeting cards, jewelry, gifts--all with a G/L/B theme.  Free
	catalog issued quarterly.  Does mail-order.  Open 10AM-12M seven
	days a week.  GMT-5h

============================================================================
Children's:

Children's Book & Music Center (2500 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA,
	+1 310-829-0215).  Complete selection of childrens books, audios,
	videos, ships worldwide. GMT-8h  [Note: I have not heard the status
	of this store after the 1/17/94 quake.  If they are still operating,
	I urge you to support them with your business.]

============================================================================
Computer:

Book Scientific (18 E 16th St, New York NY, +1 212-206-1310,
	FAX +1 212-675-4230).  Scientific and technical books; (good)
	selection consists of physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics
	and computer texts (not books like "DOS for Dummies," but texts).
	Not a large place, but small occasional gems for those who look for
	them.  10% discount to faculty or university researchers, 5%
	discount to students.  They'll order books, and ship them worldwide.
	GMT-5h

Reiter's Scientific and Technical Bookstore (2021 K St NW, Washington DC,
	+1 202-223-3327, FAX +1 202-296-9103).  They have a very broad stock
	of technical books and are also willing to ship worldwide.  Open
	Mon-Sat 9AM-7:30PM, Sat 9:30AM-6PM, Sun 12N-5PM.  GMT-5h

Quantum Books (4 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA  02142, +1 617-494-5042,
	FAX +1 617-577-7282, quanbook@world.std.com).  Large selection of
	physics, math, etc.  Rather computer-heavy.  GMT-5h


============================================================================
Religion:

Judaism:

Pinsker's Bookstore (2028 Murray Avenue, Pittsburg PA, 1-800-JUDAISM
	[1-800-583-2476], or +1 412-421-3033, FAX +1 412-421-6103, email
	info@judaism.com).  Will ship worldwide from its very
	extensive stock of Judaic books.  Has a gopher service at
	judaism.com.  Almost definitely closed Saturday and open Sunday.
	GMT-5h

Jerusalem Books, Ltd. (P.O.B. 18189, Jerusalem 91181, Israel, 972-2-850858).
	Hebrew and English titles published in Israel. "This is the only
	Israeli mail order book store I have dealt with, although no doubt
	there are others.  The prices are not cheap, but the selection is
	pretty good."  GMT+2h

Christianity:

Hackman's Bible Book Store, Inc. (1341 Mickley Road, Whitehall PA 18052,
	800-345-1341 or +1 215-264-8600, FAX +1 215-264-1411).  "I could
	spend hours and hours looking through all of their books and things.
	They are now computerized so that they can look things up faster and
	or also they can order it by using their computer database.  This
	store is a 20,000 square foot facility!  Quite large for a Christian
	Bookstore."  They carry a wide assortment of related items (music,
	choir gowns, communion supplies, etc.) as well.  They ship
	worldwide.  GMT -5h

============================================================================
Art:

Hacker Art Books (45 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019, +1 212-688-7600,
	FAX +1 212-754-2554).  Huge selection.  "They do regular specialist
	catalogues (at least for the criticism and art history I said I was
	interested in), and their remainders and sales are also available by
	mail.  A letter to them gets you on their mailing list."  They ship
	worldwide. GMT -5h

==========================================================================
Copyright Notice

Information contained in this FAQ is compiled from many sources.  The
compiler accepts no responsibility for the comments contained herein.
The comments are provided "as is" with no warranty, express or implied,
for the information provided within them.

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To support this, this FAQ is Compilation Copyright 1996 by Evelyn C. Leeper
(the FAQ maintainer).

============================================================================

Evelyn C. Leeper | +1 908 957 2070 | eleeper@lucent.com

-- 
Evelyn C. Leeper    |  eleeper@lucent.com
+1 908 957 2070     |  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4824
"El sueno de la razon produce monstruos."
--caption to plate 43 of Goya's "Caprichios"
