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Portsmouth BooksSpecializing in Californiana, Literature, Misc. Fine and Rare, Modern First Editions, Mystery, San Francisco<< Use the form to the left to search the inventory of Portsmouth Books. For advanced search options, click ↓ advanced options.View Rare Books from Portsmouth BooksPortsmouth Books is owned and operated by Joseph S. Serrano, a collector turned bookseller of Modern First Editions. Portsmouth Books is an Internet/mail order bookstore located in San Francisco, California. Specialties of Portsmouth Books are Modern First Editions in Literature and Mystery; Californiana and San Francisco; Misc. Fine and Rare Books. Our Name Our shop is named after the famous Portsmouth Plaza of San Francisco. We chose this name because of our love for San Francisco and its history. Independent bookstores in our neighborhoods and communities are essential and worth supporting. Portsmouth Plaza, San Francisco's first community center, was host to San Francisco's first independent bookstore, Pioneer Books. We at Portsmouth Books support our local independent bookstores and hope that you will too. Here is some additional information about the square, which has been reprinted from, www.sanfranciscochinatown.com. Known as the "Heart of Chinatown" -- Portsmouth Square. This square is called the Heart of Chinatown because Chinatown started along one side of the square and now extends around and beyond it. Portsmouth Square is rich with history as marked by statues, markers, and plaques sprinkled throughout the square. Named for the U.S.S. Portsmouth, commanded by Captain John B. Montgomery, after whom Montgomery Street was named. It was here on the plaza that Captain Montgomery first raised the American flag near the Mexican adobe custom house on July 9, 1846. Portsmouth Square plaza was the center of many early-day activities: ·the first public school building, erected in 1847 on the southwest corner of plaza, where religious services and many public meetings were held, ·the dramatic announcement of gold discovery made on May 11, 1848, when Sam Brannan displayed glittering samples to crowds, ·refuge for citizens following conflagrations of 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1906, ·citizens' assembly on July 16, 1849 to organize against depredations of a lawless body called 'The Hounds,' ·memorial services held August 29, 1850, following death of President Zachary Taylor, ·first Admission Day celebration held October 29, 1850, when the steamship Oregon brought the news that California had become 31st state on September 9, ·an indignation meeting, organized June 1, 1852, to protest against the city council's purchase of the Jenny Lind Theatre to be used as a city hall, ·commemorative services held for Henry Daly, August 10, 1852, ·and an oration delivered by Colonel E. D. Baker on September 18, 1859, over the body of U. S. Senator David C. Broderick, killed in duel with Chief Justice David S. Terry. ·Robert Louis Stevenson spent many hours here during his visit to the city in 1879-1880. Member since: 2005-07-27 E-mail address: Phone number: 415-577-9774 Address:
Portsmouth Books
776 28th Ave San Mateo, California 94403 United States Payment methods accepted: 
Shipping Rates: Click here for shipping rates Terms of sale: Fine is our highest grade; all book dust jackets are in archival covers. All our books that are described as First Editions are also First Printings, unless indicated otherwise. All books are guaranteed to be as described. We issue a full refund, including shipping costs, for returns due to an unstated defect or other mistake on our part. Please ask any questions before placing your order. All books are subject to prior sale. Payment can be made by credit card or, if preferred, by check or money order. When paying with check or money order please include your phone number and address with your order. Payment is due prior to shipment. We hold books for 10 days (14 days, if international order) pending payment by mail: personal check, cashier checks, or money orders. Books are shipped within 24 hours of payment confirmation. Payment Methods Accepted We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover payments via Paypal (portsmouthbooks@earthlink.net) or biblio.com. We also accept: Personal Checks, Cashiers Checks, and Money Orders. Please call or email if you intend to mail us a payment. Make payments payable to Portsmouth Books. Mail payment to P.O. Box 147, San Francisco, CA 94104-0147. Browse the inventory of Portsmouth BooksBrowse books by author: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Browse books by title: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
