With 18 miles of used and new books, it’s hard not to lose yourself amongst the bookshelves in Strand. As New York City’s most beloved bookstore, it has quite an extensive history — and a few secrets, too.
I once heard a rumor that treasures can sometimes be found stuffed between the pages of Strand’s used books. Anything from old photos to love letters. Determined to see if I could track one down for myself, I decided to head to the bookstore for the day.
I ended up spending most of my time in the Rare Book Room, which holds antiquated editions of popular books. It sits on the third floor of the store, but is often neglected because it can only be reached via the elevator. I figured it was as good of a place to start as any.
With no clear agenda, I randomly picked a shelf and began shifting through its contents. This is what I came across:
1. A book of poems with the word "souls" written inside its cover:
2. A press release inside "The Pathseeker":
3. Someone's business card:
Who are you Arthur Reed?
4. A friendly inscription from Edgar:
5. A 1934 Christmas gift from Mrs. Detweiler:
6. A list of people who borrowed this book from the school library:
