We like to consider ourselves fairly literate people, and it is with this in mind that we have taken this approach to internet shopping.  Slightly tongue in cheek at times, often unabashedly geeky, but always with the desire to convey the magic of real objects...be they books or clothes or perhaps the odd bit of ephemera we run across.  We hope that when you ‘walk’ into our store The Bookman & The Lady, that you experience the same pleasures of a phenomenal brick and mortar bookstore or clothing store: the ability to browse at your leisure, perhaps learn something new, discover an author you had never heard of before, find a lovely garment that makes you feel good, and have a pleasant chat (or email convo) with the owners…
We love what we do! 

​We believe in the fundamental goodness of people, and in well made objects.  We believe in the real.  Even online, when so often things begin to take on a sense of unreality, there are ways to reclaim the genuine.
Our aim is to provide an enjoyable online shopping experience, by emphasizing quality and caring.  In our own way, we are working to build a small little corner of the universe that feels good.  Here is a place where we can geek out about incredible books, and admire well made clothing. We want to share that enthusiasm with you, because it is fun for us.

Cheers,
The Bookman & The Lady

The Story of 
The Bookman & The Lady

PictureTHE BOOKMAN (Benjamin)
Once upon a time, sometime in 1980s in the American Southwest, there was a child.  Though he didn't know it yet, that child would grow up to one day be The Bookman.  His father was a writer, who also sold rare and uncommon books for a living.  The young Bookman swore he'd never do either of those things, though he eventually went on to do...both.  He did develop a love for the horror genre early on, his favorite writer being Stephen King.  The little Bookman loved the characters, the classic nostalgia and of course the dramatic tension that King was so good at bringing.  Many years have passed between there and here, but good story is still important to the Bookman.  He lives his life with a kind of fervent honesty, always with a devotion to the real.  He laughs often and has a fondness for wearing mismatched prints and jaunty hats.
PictureTHE LADY (Calixte)
Simultaneously, in another part of the country, a strange far away land called Southern California in the 1980s, there grew a young girl, who would one day grow up to be The Lady. Her parents owned a New Age bookstore, and her father was a writer and also particularly keen on collecting rare books.  The little Lady got in trouble often for reading at the dinner table, and sometimes even while walking down the street, but she loved books so much and couldn't stop.  When she wasn’t reading, she also liked writing stories and playing dress ups.  Moving through time we find that The Lady has became a grown up too, but her passions haven’t changed much.  She still likes to read, write and play dress ups as much as possible. Her favorite all time author is M.F.K. Fisher.  Fisher’s honest, genuine voice and love for people and community has always resonated deeply with the Lady.  It is in this spirit that she enjoys talking to different kinds of people and hearing their stories, the more authentic and eccentric, the better.
How did the two meet, you ask?

Fate and a well timed blind date both played a hand at bringing The Bookman & The Lady together.  They quickly hit it off and decided that they couldn’t bear to be apart.  It wasn’t long before they moved to Santa Fe together, and just a short while after that when they decided to go into business together doing things they were good at: collecting and selling both uncommon books and vintage clothing.  Though they like to think of it more as hunting for treasure and then sharing it with you.  It's just more fun that way.    

And there you have it: The Bookman & The Lady were born.  Or that’s the story anyway.