By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
It was the best of lines, it was the worst of lines.
On one hand, the 130 people queued up in the moments before the 10 a.m. opening of the Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Book Sale preview at Princeton Day School on Wednesday knew they would have first pick from the 80,000 discounted tomes awaiting them inside. On the other hand, that anticipation came with the knowledge that a frenzied rush for the best literary loot was just moments away.
Harboring those thoughts at the end of the line Wednesday morning was Matt, a Manhattanite who declined to give his last name so his employer wouldn’t fire him for taking the day off to add a few dozen more books to the thousands he said he already has on his shelves at home.
”I work for JP Morgan, probably one of the most combative Wall Street firms,” he said. “And yet my knees shake when I go into these things. It’s chaos after about two minutes.”
”Kill the book dealers,” added his anonymous female companion, aiming her sarcastic battle cry at the majority of the those in the line who, unlike the Manhattan couple, were there on business.
Fortunately, off-duty Princeton Township Detective Sgt. Scott Porreca was there to ensure there would be no killing — or “jockeying in line,” as he put it — among those waiting to take advantage of the first pick afforded by the preview sale’s $20 entry fee.
According to Maxine Lampert, one of the organizers, proceeds from the entry fees and all of the sales go toward “substantial financial aid for a girl at each college” — the reason for the sale’s founding 77 years ago. Since then, it has grown to feature over 200 tables of books, which are donated throughout the year and held in a warehouse on Vandeventer Avenue in Princeton Borough.
When the doors finally opened Wednesday morning, and the line rushed inside, the difference between professional book vendors looking to turn a profit and bookworms simply browsing for bargains became more clear.
As the latter group moseyed around the school’s gym and cafeteria, taking time to read back covers, the dealers moved swiftly. Some blocked out distractions with iPods, and most carried PDAs outfitted with scanning devices that read the bar codes and allow them to check prices and their inventory. They lugged around books in cardboard boxes, large plastic sacks, and even a plastic U.S. Postal Service bin. One dealer managed 26 books in one arm.
When stacks became too big to carry, dealers hoarded them in corners or under tables, covering their spoils with blankets and jackets.
Bronx book dealer Jeff Brewer took it slightly less seriously. Picking through a table of older books while greeting other dealers by name and eventually settling on a copy of “Post Office” by Charles Bukowski, Mr. Brewer said it’s always a struggle to find good items.
”Every year you hope to God that you get lucky,” he said. “It’s getting harder and harder.”
Asked why he stays in what he admitted is “a tough business,” Mr. Brewer compared it to fishing.
”You go out there because you just like to fish. Once in a while you’ll get something, and that kind of keeps you going for the next time,” he said. “You work hard and eventually you find something.”
So, does he have a specific white whale in his sights?
”There are a couple. There’s ‘Moby Dick’ of course. I’ve never gotten a first of that,” he said, referring to a first edition. “I’ve gotten some very good firsts, but I’ve never gotten that one.”
Slightly less ambitious, if more enthusiastic about the selection, was Connie Escher, a teacher at John Witherspoon Middle School in Princeton who’s been coming to the sale for more than 20 years.
”That’s the thrill — the hunt,” she said, citing plans to buy books both for her classroom and for her personal library. “Just don’t tell my husband how much I spend. I’ve bought a stackful already.”
Though the sale will continue from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, the tops of some tables had already begun to show by noon on Wednesday.
That spelled a happy ending for most attendees. After all, Matt hadn’t been fired, Ms. Escher was about to go home happy, and Detective Porreca hadn’t had to raise his baton against anyone out of line.
And while Mr. Brewer didn’t spear his white whale Wednesday, maybe he’ll find his treasure next year.
Isn’t it pretty to think so?
