Store Information
Magers & Quinn Booksellers is serious about protecting the health and safety of our customers and employees. In response to COVID-19, we have adapted both our processes and our shopping environment to ensure the highest health and safety standards.
What we are doing to keep everyone safe while shopping at Magers & Quinn:
• We’re limiting how many customers are browsing at a time.
• We’re offering contactless pickup in the alley behind the store.
• For the protection of all customers and employees, everyone must wear a mask or cloth face covering while in the store during open hours.
• If you are unable to wear a mask or otherwise unable to browse in person, please take advantage of our shipping and contactless pickup options. Orders can be placed online or over the phone.
• Employees are asked to fill out a health screening questionnaire upon arrival to their shift.
• Plexi guards have been installed at our registers.
• We are practicing 6 foot social distancing guidelines at all times and are asking customers to do the same with signage posted around the store.
• Preferred payment methods are credit card, book credit, or gift card.
• Employees are encouraged to wash their hands frequently and to use hand sanitizer every 30 minutes when handling the books, particularly during shelving and receiving.
• Customers are asked to use hand sanitizer upon entering the store.
• Used books are “aged” for 3 days before they are processed for the store.
• Returns are also “aged” for 3 days before being returned to the shelves.
• A heightened cleaning routine of all high touch surfaces and restrooms has been put in place.
Contactless Alley-Side Pickup:
We offer a contactless pickup option via our garage door on the alley behind the store. All purchases must be completed on the website or over the phone ahead of time. Please wear a mask, if possible, and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other customers and employees. Simply drive or walk up the alleyway behind the store, accessible from 31st St, we’re the first garage door on the right. There's no need to park, but please pull up against the building to allow other vehicles to pass. Ring the doorbell or give us a call (612-822-4611) to alert us to your arrival.
In Store Pickup:
While the store is open for browsing, we can also offer in-store pickup through our front door. In store pickup is available for purchases made on the website or over the phone. Please call (612-822-4611) to inquire about placing a book on hold to purchase in person in the store. A mask must be worn at all times while in the store and we are limiting how many people can be in the store at one time, so there may be a short wait. Please speak to the bookseller at the front door when you arrive.
Back to Top
We hope you will visit us in person! The continued support of our customers--whether from around the block or around the country--keeps us going, and we are so grateful for every one of our visitors.
Getting here is easy:
• By bus - We are just a few blocks south of the Uptown Transit Station, which is serviced by these routes: 6, 12, 17, 21, 23, 53, 114, 115, and 612. In particular, the 6 and 23 stop just feet from our door, on the corner of 31st St. and Hennepin Ave.
• By bike - A bike lane runs on Hennepin Ave. from Lake St. to 36th St. We are also located just south of the Midtown Greenway. Customers are welcome to bring bikes into the store if bike rack space is unavailable outside.
• By foot - In the neighborhood? We hope you stop in! We are a pet-friendly store, so bring your animal companions along too.
• By car - After finding your way to our store, street parking can be found on the streets west of Hennepin Avenue, or in the Calhoun Square parking ramp. See below for maps and hints.
Back to Top

There is usually ample street parking within a few blocks of the store on these streets. (See yellow square on the parking map.)
Please note that this map is for reference only. Parking key is approximate and subject to change at any time due to City of Minneapolis regulations, special neighborhood events, construction activity, etc.
Back to Top
Book drop-offs are by appointment only. Call 612-822-4611 between 10am-7pm to make an appointment. Drop-offs will be scheduled on a limited basis as capacity allows.
All books must be in cardboard boxes with tops, and must fit inside the boxes when closed. Sellers must be able to unload boxes from their car.
All offers are final. Books that we cannot resell will be donated, unless the seller makes explicit arrangements to pick them up within 24 hours of completion of the buy. We are unable to quarantine books before returning them to the seller.
Offers of less than $10 will be eligible for store credit. Larger offers will be eligible for store credit or payment via check. Checks will be mailed and may take up to two weeks to arrive.
Please note: It's difficult to say over the phone what titles we may or may not be interested in at any given time. Generally, books must be clean and in good shape, but it is necessary to see books in person to determine their salability and value.
Large collections (800+ books): For selling substantial collections of quality books in the vicinity of the Twin Cities, we may be willing to send a book buyer to your home. Please contact us, and tell us roughly the number of books and their subject matter. (To quickly calculate a rough number, simply count the books on two shelves and divide by 2 to get an average number per shelf. Then multiply the average by the number of shelves you have to get a rough total.) We may be interested in seeing photos of your bookshelves, giving a general idea of the size, nature, and condition of the collection (no need for lists or photos of individual books). If we are able to send someone, it will be necessary to schedule in advance.
Our alleyway drop off point for your books:


We are not currently hiring but are always accepting applications.
Submit an application or resume and cover letter to books@magersandquinn.com.
Job Application
Back to Top
Shopping the Site
Our retail store features over 170,000 new and used books. Our offsite fulfillment warehouses increase that total to over 15 million available titles. Since inventory on our site is stored at more than one location, not all titles shown are immediately available in store.On Our Shelves Now: The item should be on our store shelves right now. These products are available for shipping or pickup.
Ships From Warehouse: This item is not in our store but is available at our distribution warehouse. Website orders of these titles will ship direct to you. For pickup of these titles, please call us at 612-822-4611. Most Ships from Warehouse books are available for pickup within 5-10 days
Coming [DATE]: This item is not yet published and should be available on or around the mentioned date.
Call for Availability: Please call us at 612-822-4611 to place an order for this title. This item is temporarily out of stock at our store and our distributor, but we may be able to get it from an alternative distributor or the publisher.
Out of Stock: This item is not in stock and may be out-of-print. Please check back at a later time or click the Notify Me button to be notified of its availability.
Back to Top
If a particular book is not On Our Shelves Now or in our warehouse, click the “Notify Me” button to receive an email alert when the item is back in stock. This button is where you would normally see the "Add to Cart" button. While logged into your account, clicking the "Notify Me" button will add that item to your notification list. This list can be accessed at any time from the My Account account menu, by clicking Product Notifications. To remove an item from the list, simply uncheck the box next to the title which you wish to remove and click the "Update" button at the bottom of the list.
View your notification list now >>>
Back to Top
New: A book in its original condition, as released by the publisher.
Used - Like New: A book in almost new condition, but not quite perfect. It may have remainder marks or minor shelf wear. Not as crisp as New.
Used - Very Good: A book which has been read and shows some use. It could show marks or shelfware. The dust jacket could show wear or minor tears.
Used - Acceptable: A book which shows more wear than an average used book. May have minor physical damage, underlining, highlighting, or library markings. We only allow this condition in a title that is in high demand, difficult to find, or otherwise expensive.
Used - No Dust Jacket: A hardcover book originally issued with a dust jacket, but the jacket is either missing or well worn. The book itself is in very good or better condition.
We make a great effort to accurately describe our books. If you'd like to learn more about the condition of a particular title, feel free to contact us. If after receiving a book from us, you feel the book is not as described, please contact us.
Back to Top
Description of Conditions for Collectible Books
Conditions appear in two parts separated by a slash, referring to the condition of the book and the condition of the dust jacket. Condition codes on collectible and rare books are defined
broadly. The older a book, the more subjective the condition code. All defects are noted in the description.
AS or As New: A book in original condition, as it was released from the publisher. Text is clean; binding is tight; the book is in unread condition.
F or Fine: Slightly less crisp condition then As New, but with little to no defects. Text is clean, and the binding is tight, but the book may have some minor shelfwear. Any defects are noted in the description.
NF or Near Fine: Shows some signs of having been read, but which is approaching Fine condition. The book is clean with a solid binding. Any defects are noted in the description.
VG or Very Good: Shows general wear, as expected with its age. It may have shelfwear or minor defects. Any defects are noted in the description.
G or Good: Shows significant wear. It may have water damage, a shaken or cracked binding, or minor defects. Any defects are noted in the description.
P or Poor: A very worn copy, with contents possibly loose, but complete unless otherwise noted.
Back to Top
Magers and Quinn Booksellers will never sell or give your e-mail address or personal address to a third party, except as necessary to complete the services you have requested, such as to shipping carriers. If you supply us with your e-mail address, you can choose to receive news and information from us via email, and can unsubscribe from the mailing list at any time.
Credit card and billing information is transmitted securely via TLS encryption. TLS protects your personal information while it is in transit via the internet and also while temporarily stored in our database.
If any unauthorized charges are made to your credit card as a result of shopping with Magers and Quinn online, you will pay nothing. If such charges do occur, please contact your credit card company first and follow their reporting procedures. By federal law, your bank or credit institution cannot charge you more than $50 for fraudulent charges. If you are held liable for any amount, Magers and Quinn will reimburse you up to $50 (provided that the charges occured at no fault of your own while your account information was held by our secure server).
Back to Top
Free shipping:
We offer free economy shipping for orders of $29.99 and up, excluding sales tax. Free shipping appears at the Billing step of checkout. This offer is extended to US shipping addresses only.
We offer free economy shipping for orders of $29.99 and up, excluding sales tax. Free shipping appears at the Billing step of checkout. This offer is extended to US shipping addresses only.
Option
Transit Time
Per Shipment
Per Item
Economy (Media Mail)
5-14 Days
$2.99
$1.00
Expedited (Priority Mail or UPS)
2-5 Days
$8.99
$2.99
International
10-30 Days
$9.99
$9.99
Next Day Pickup
Ready within 24 hours
FREE
FREE
• Items shipping to an address within Minnesota may arrive faster.
• Import taxes and duties are the responsibility of the recipient.
Next Day Pickup:
For products advertised as "On Our Shelves Now", we offer next day pickup as a shipping option. Everything in your shopping cart must be advertised as On Our Shelves Now to qualify. To pickup "Ships from Warehouse" items, please call the store to ask about availability and pickup options. Our current hours.
Once submitted, we will prepare your order as quickly as possible and send an email when it's ready.
For more information about In-Store Pickup and Contactless Alley-side Pickup, see the COVID Response section.
Our alleyway pickup door for your order:

Credit Card: We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The billing address must exactly match the billing address on file with your credit card company. In the physical store, we also accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay via mobile NFC.
Gift Card: Gift cards purchased on magersandquinn.com may be redeemed on this website. Either click the email link or enter the gift card code into the "Gift Certificate" field on the Billing page during checkout. The amount will be applied against the total. Any remaining balance is saved for your next purchase. Website gift cards may be converted to retail store gift cards, in-store only. Please call ahead to make sure someone who can perform this action is on duty when you plan to arrive.
To purchase a physical, in-store gift card, please drop in or call us at 612-822-4611 during business hours.
Check/Money Order: We accept checks and money orders in US dollars for domestic orders only. When submitting your order, you will be asked to mail payment. Our confirmation email will also request payment. Your order will be held for seven days awaiting payment.
Back to Top
Receipt required for all returns.
Items may be returned for a refund, provided they are returned in their advertised condition. Any packaging unique to the item, such as shrink wrap or decorative packaging, must be intact and unopened. Returns may either be shipped back or returned to our store in person during business hours. Refunds are provided in the same form of payment used for the original purchase. Money order refunds will be issued by check. Refunds to credit cards may take 1-3 business days to fully process at the bank of issue.
In-store purchases and pickups:
HOLIDAY RETURN POLICY:
Books purchased between Nov 24, 2020 and Dec 24, 2020 can be returned for the original form of payment within 7 days OR exchanged for store credit before Jan 31, 2021. Original or Gift receipt required. No Exceptions.
RETURN POLICY:
Items must be returned within 7 days of payment, original receipt required. Refunds made in same manner as purchase. No Exceptions.
Shipped items:
HOLIDAY RETURN POLICY:
Books purchased between Nov 24, 2020 and Dec 24, 2020 can be returned for the original form of payment within 14 days of delivery OR exchanged for store credit before Jan 31, 2021. Please include the packing slip and a reason for the return. The lowest cost method to ship books is Media Mail at your post office, and this service includes a free tracking number.
RETURN POLICY:
Shipped items may be returned for a refund within 14 days of delivery, either shipped back or returned in person during business hours. Please include the packing slip and a reason for the return. The lowest cost method to ship books is Media Mail at your post office, and this service includes a free tracking number.
Please address returns to:
Magers and Quinn Booksellers
Attn: Returns
3038 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Returns are processed within 48 hours of the item arriving back to our store.
Please Contact Us with any questions you have on returns.
Back to Top
Gift cards purchased online consist of a code that may be redeemed online. Gift cards purchased in store are physical cards that may be redeemed in store. Each type of gift certificate may be converted into the other by a member of store staff. To convert a gift card, please bring a printout of the email with the online code or the physical card into the store. Conversions may only be done in store.
Gift cards purchased on our website will be sent immediately after payment to the email address you specify containing the dollar amount, the sender's name, an optional personalized message, and instructions for redeeming the gift card. No physical gift card will be sent. As the sender you will also receive a receipt via email after the transaction is completed. Please keep this receipt in the event that the intended recipient does not receive it (because of an invalid email address, spam filter, etc.).
Buy a gift card now >>>
For instructions on how to make a purchase with a gift card, see our help section on paying with a gift card.
Back to Top
Glossary of Book Terms
1/4 Leather: When the spine is covered in leather and the boards are either paper or cloth.
12mo: Duodecimo or twelvemo, book stands between 7"-7 1/2" tall
16mo: Sextodecimo or sixteenmo, book stands between 6"-7" tall
1st Ed. Thus: (see "First Edition Thus")
1st trade ed: (see "First Edition Thus")
24mo: Vegisemo-quarto or twenty-fourmo. Book stands between 5" and 6" tall
3/4 Bound: When the spine and large amount of the boards are covered in leather and the rest of the boards are paper or cloth.
32mo: Trigesimo-decundo. Book stands between 4" and 5" tall
48mo: Quadragesimi-octavo. Book stands between 3 1/2" and 4" tall
4to: Quarto. Book stands between 9" and 13" tall
64mo: Sexagesimo-quarto. Book stands between 3" and 3 1/2" tall
8vo: Octavo. Book stands between 7 1/2" and 9" tall. The average hardcover is 8vo.
Advance Reading Copy: An advance prepublication copy of the book sent to reviewers and booksellers, usually softcover.
All Edges Gilt: Edges of pages cut smooth and gilded to protect from dust.
As Issued: Book is in original condition, with all parts present.
Backstrip: Covering of the book's spine
bds: (See "Boards")
Beveled Edges, Boards: A style of binding where the edges of the boards have been bevelled, ie cut to a slanting angle.
Bibliomania: A madness for books, a bibliomaniac is a book collector with a slightly wild look in his eye.
Bilbliophily, Bibliophile: The love of books, a lover of books
Binding Cover of the Book: (See "boards, waps, wrappers")
Blank Leaves, Blanks: Binder's blank sheets usually found between the end papers and title page, and between the end of the text and rear endpapers.
Blindstamp: A decorative pattern or lettering that has been impressed onto the boards or leather.
Boards: Refers to the covers of a hard cover book, the spine not included.
Bookplate: A label stating previous ownership, usually found on an endpaper.
Book-Stamp: a stamp indicating previous ownership, either in ink or blind.
Broken Type: Caused from a deterioration in the plates during the process of a printing, often used to distinguish between issues or states.
Calf: Leather from the hide of a calf, one of the most common type of leather used in bookbinding
Chip, Chipping: When the color on the surface of the book or dust jacket has begun to chip away, or the loss of tiny pieces along the edges of the dust jacket.
Cloth: Boards that have been covered in cloth, i.e. cloth bound
Cocked: A spine that has become slanted, the boards are no longer square with each other.
Colophon: A statement following the text providing all or some of the following information: title, author, printer, place of printing, date
Contemporary: Usually referring to the books binding, that it is done in the style of the decade in which it was printed.
Copyright Page: The reverse side of the title page, lists printing information, copyright, pulisher, printer, etc.
Covers: The book's binding, see boards, wraps, cloth, leather
Cracked: When the hinges or binding of a book have started to pull away from the spine but is still holding.
Cuts: Referring to small illustrations incororporated into the text (as opposed to plates).
Damp Stain: A stain caused by contact with moisture, sometimes appears as a ripple in the paper, a tan stain or water spot
Deckle Edges: When the edges of the text block have not been evenly trimmed.
Dentelle: A lacy patterned border found on the inner edge, most often on the inside of the boards.
Device: A decorative design used by the publisher or printer as their imprint on the book.
Disbound: A binding that has come undone, or boards that are no longer attached
Dos-a-Dos: Two books that have been bound togeter, one upside down from the other, sharing the same spine.
Dust Jacket, DJ: A paper cover, usually decorated, that wraps around a books boards and spine.
e.p.: Endpaper
ed.:Edition
Edges, Block Edges: The outer edges of the leaves of a book, see also "Block"
Edition: All copies of a book printed from one type setting
Elephant Folio: Book that stands over 23" tall
Endpaper: The first and last two papers of a text block, one being pasted to the inside of the board. Often endpapers are marbled or illustrated.
Engravings: Illustrations made using the intaglio or relief printing process.
Ephemera: A piece of nostalgic memorablia, often pamphlets, brochures or braodsides.
Ex-Lib: Ex-Library
Ex-Library: A book previously owned by a library. May include library markings, stamps, card pocket or library binding
Ex-Libris: Meaning "from the library of." Refers to a private owner as apposed to a public library.
f.e.p.: Front endpaper
f.f.e.p.: Front free endpaper
f.p.d.: Front paste down
Facsimile: An exact copy of the original.
Fall-down-back Box: A protective box for the book with a double hinge enabling it to lay flat when open.
First Edition: The first appearance of a book
First Edition Thus: The first edition in this form.
First Trade Edition: The first edition printed for general sale.
Folio: Book stands between 15" and 23" tall
Fore Edge: The outer edge of the text block, or page leaves, opposite the spine.
Fore-edge Painting: A small painting, often a landscape, painted on the outer edge of the text block, only visible by fanning the pages slightly.
Foxing, Foxed: Referring to small tan spots that can appear on the binding or paper of a book, caused by acidity.
Frontispiece: The illustration or plate facing the title page.
Full Bound: When the binding on the boards and spine is all the same, i.e. full bound leather.
Galley: One form of a pre publication of a book, often in plain wrappers, sent to editors and reviewers. See advance reader & proof
Gilt Edges: All three edges of the text block are cut smooth and gilded
Glassine: A Translucent dust jacket, looks like onion paper
Gutter: Inner margin
Half Title: An abbreviated title page bound in before the actual title page.
Headband: A cloth band that decorates the head and foot (or tail) of the spine
Hinge: Where the boards meet the spine, usually refers to the inside of the book.
Inscribed: A signature by the author, artist or other affiliate of the book, that includes a note to the recipient.
ISBN (International Standard Book Number): The unique ten-digit number which identifies every new book now printed. The ISBN appears on the copyright page (usually on the reverse side of the title page) and/or as part of the barcode on a book's cover. Note that books prior to approximately 1970 often do not have an ISBN.
Joint: Where the boards meet the spine, usually refers to the outside of the book.
Laid In: A letter, note or other piece of loose paper that is inserted into the book but not bound in or glued.
Leaf: One piece of paper, forming one page, consisting of both sides (recto and verso)
Limited Edition: An edition of a book that has been held to a rather small number of printings, usually numbered individually
List Price: The publisher's original price.
Marbled: A form of decoration done to paper, similar in appearance to the swirls inside a marble, usally used for endpapers and on boards
Margins: The white boarder surrounding the text on any given page, head, tail, outer or inner.
Miniature: A book that stands under 3" tall
Modern First: A first edition published during the 20th century.
Morocco: A leather made from the hide of a goat, a heavy-duty leather suited for dyeing bright, bold colors.
N.D.: No Date
No Date: No date is noted on the title page or copyright page.
Offset: The transfer of ink from one page onto the facing page as a result of the papers being stacked before the ink is completely dry
Out of Print: When the publisher is out-of-stock of a particular book, only second-hand copies are available
p.d.: Paste down endpaper
Page: One side of a leaf.
Paste Down: The endpaper that is glued to the inside of the boards.
Plates: A whole page illustration, often printed on different paper than the text.
Presentation Copy: A copy of a book presented by the author, often to someone notable
Previous Owner's Inscription: When a previous owner has noted their name, gift inscription or other information in ink on a page in the book, usually an endpaper.
Price Clipped: When the publisher's price has been clipped off the dust jacket flap.
Private Press: A small press, usually printing small numbers of quality books.
Private Printing: Refers to a small number of books printed for a particular person or group, usually intended for private use.
Proof: One form of a pre publication copy of a book, usually in plain wrappers, see also advance reader, galley
Pub: Publisher, published
Raised Bands: When the leaves of a book are sewn together on horizontal cords, then covered, the cords stand out and are visible on the spine.
Rebacked: A method of repair done to the spine, and usually the joints/hinges. When possible the original spine is saved and glued over the repaired one.
Rebound: When a books original binding has been replaced by a new one.
Recased: When a book's boards have been reattached to the original spine, sometimes with new endpapers.
Recto: The right hand page of an open book, or the front side of a leaf.
Remainder (Mark): A mark made by the publisher on the edge of the text block. Denotes a book that was returned and has been re-sold at a discount
Review Copy: A pre publication copy of a book sent to reviewers, often containing review slip or publication information.
Review Slip: A slip laid in a book announcing the publication date and price of a book
Rubbed, Rubbing: A light form of wear from general use of a book, often in the form of fading or fraying.
Shaken: A binding that is becoming loose but is still attached
Sheet: A printer's unit. Four pages are printed per sheet for a folio, and then folded in half, to form two leaves. Eight pages are printed for a quarto, to form four leaves. Sixteen pages are printed for an octavo, to form eight leaves, and so on.
Signature: The groupings of leaves that are formed by folding single sheets together, these are sewn together to form a book.
Signed: A book that has been autographed by the author or illustrator.
Slipcase: A box with one open side for the book to slide in and out of.
Spine: The edge of the book that faces out when a book is on a shelf, the part of the book where the signatures are gathered and binding is made
State: Refers to the priority of copies within an edition, usually in reference to small changes that were made during a printing
t.p.: Title Page
Tail: The bottom margin of a leaf or the foot of the backstrip or spine.
Tail-Piece: An ornament found in the blank space, toward the bottom of the page, at the end of a chapter.
Text Block: All the pages that have been sewn together to form the book, located between the boards.
Tipped In: A method of inserting plates into a book. A small amount of glue or gum is placed on the corners of the plate which is then attached to one of the bound in pages.
Title Page: The page at the begining of a book bearing the title, author and usually the publisher and date.
Trade Edition: The average published edition, as apposed to a limited edition.
Unbound: When the leaves are loose, usually refers to a book that was never bound.
Uncut: A text block that has not been trimmed during the binding or re-binding process.
Unopened: When neighboring leaves have not been separated with a paper knife.
Variant: A Copy of an edition that exhibits some variation from another copy of the same edition, in the text, title pg, illustration, paper etc.
Vellum: A thin sheet of calf skin, de-greased and treated, used for binding or printing on.
Verso: The back side of the leaf, the left hand page of an open book.
Vignette: A small ornamental design usually found on the title page or at the begining or end of a chapter.
Vol.: Volume
Wrappers: The paper covers of a softcover, or paperback book.
Yapp, Yapp Edges: A style of binding, usually a limp leather, in which the edges of the wrappers overlap the edges of the text block.