The Ridge Books

03/11/2026

Gardner and I are back home from two successful book fairs, Atlanta and St. Petersburg. As usual, there are some great items that did not sell, and because I want to buy other books (of course!), I am offering them on my website at significate discounts and free shipping. Check back in a few days because there will be other listings as we unpack and take stock. Here's the link:

Specializing in rare books, out-of-print books, used books, secondhand books, and other hard-to-find books.

02/19/2026

We have two book fairs coming up in the next three weeks. The first is February 27-March 1, at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. It is organized by Fine Book Fairs and features 22 booksellers from around the country. This is really the first antiquarian fair in Atlanta is several years and promises to be an exciting event. Here's a link to fair information: https://finefairs.com/atlanta

I have a few free passes to the fair for Saturday or Sunday. If you would like one, please contact me ASAP, [email protected]

As soon as we return from Atlanta we'll pack up for the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, March 7-8. It's the largest one in the Southeast and has a 40+ year history of great material form over 80 prominent dealers. Here's a link:

www.floridaantiquarianbookfair.com

Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is the oldest and largest book fair of its kind in the southeastern United States. It is the third largest in the nation.

01/17/2026

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
King's funeral was held on April 9, 1968 in Atlanta. I was working for Southern Bell at 51 Ivy Street , close enough to the route from the private service at Ebenezer Baptist Church to the public service at Morehouse College that we could see traffic at a standstill and people headed that direction. The switchboard (remember those) stayed busy and we were short-handed because quite a few employees took time off to attend the service.
It was a memorable day for me, but even more so for Bob. He was a senior at Emory when the Southern Christian Leadership Conference recruited college men with cars to help provide transportation to and from the airport and hotels, as well as to the service at Ebenezer. SCLC also arranged for security during the 100,000 person march to Morehouse. Governor Maddox surrounded the Capitol with riot troops "to protect public property.
Each Courtesy Car had a handmade paper sign identifying it - Bob's was # 265. I don't recall if he had any famous passengers, but he folded the sign and kept it.
I got it our a few days ago and put it in a frame. I am exhibiting at a book fair in Atlanta the end of February and plan to put in in my booth. I feel that it is a piece of ephemera that deserves to be preserved and displayed, even though it was designed to be thrown away. Bob was from a family of packrats, a genetic trait inherited by our sons, so of course it has survived!
Here's a picture of the sign and a link to the Atlanta show. It's at Oglethorpe University February 27- March 1. I'd love to see you there! https://finefairs.com/atlanta

11/18/2025

There's a new Rare Book Café post today - How to build a Christmas Book Tree by ME!

Co-host Lee Linn's obsessive fascination with Christmas is widely known. In this episode, Lee shares a bit of her obsession with book lovers who want to take...

06/10/2025

IN 2020, during the height of the pandemic, book fairs were of course canceled and booksellers weren't traveling or buying books at estate sales and the like. Marvin Getman, a book fair promoter from Boston, developed a platform for virtual book fairs, completely online. This week is the 5th anniversary of that first virtual fair and The Ridge Books will be participating with a nice variety of books and ephemera. Join me and lots of other booksellers starting Thursday, June 12 at noon through Saturday, June 14. Look for us at getmansvirtual.com

02/27/2025

Gardner and I will be exhibiting at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair this weekend, March 1-2, at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg. The theme is Discover Your Treasure, and if you are in the area, come by and see what treasures 80 booksellers have brought.

10/22/2024

I have officially joined the ranks of "old people" I guess- today my walk-in jetted tub was installed! It has a heated seat, air and water jet, aromatherapy and light therapy. I think my still recovering leg will really appreciate this! I can't use it until in the morning when the silicone sealant is dry. Pictures show after the old tub was removed , the new tub brought in and the finished job. Mine is from Independent Home and I have been very pleased with them. The installers were great, finished in about 7 hours, left everything clean. Thank you Devonte, Johnny and French! And my salesman, JJ.

07/23/2024

It's time for another virtual book fair, starting Thursday at noon through Saturday evening. As usual, it's on getmansvirtual.com.
I'll have a wide variety of both books and ephemera, many of them at reduced prices. Topics rage from Music and African American to Beats and Cherokees, as well as several Holloway House publications Of special interest are two 17th century books, The Secret History of Whitehall (history of the Stuarts) from 1697 and a book in Latin from a writer in the Netherlands about legal issues, published in 1691. My Georgia friends will be interested in a 1942 autograph book of Atlanta country singers who performed on radio, WSB, WAGA, WATL, WGTS. Here's the link: Fair opens at noon July25.

https://getmansvirtual.com/

06/18/2024

Thanks to everyone got so many birthday wishes! I am having a lovely birthday week!

06/12/2024

Visit The Ridge Books June 13-15 at the 4th Anniversary Getman's Virtual Book Fair. Interesting books and ephemera and some bargains, too!
getmansvirtual.com

05/31/2024

You have three more opportunities to see Always, Patsy Cline at the Harris Arts Center, Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon. Heather Utz IS Patsy! The band is excellent and Susan Wilkerson as Patsy's biggest fan Louise is over the top . If you are a classic country fan like I am, you'll find yourself singing along to every one of the 20+ songs. Treat yourself to some fine entertainment! You can reserve tickets by calling HAC Friday or buy them at the door.