Newport’s Bookworm

By: Kerri Adams
Posted In: News

Photo credit: Kerri Adams
Dennis Kelley, the owner of D. Kelley’s fine used books, poses in front of just some of his store’s collection.

About 15 years ago, Dennis Kelley was a salesman and whenever he drove past a used bookstore, he could not resist the urge to venture inside. Once he turned 50, he experienced a midlife crisis and decided to quit his sales job to pursue his passion for books. In November 1995, he opened D. Kelley’s Fine Used Books in Newport, R.I. and has been at the same location on Broadway ever since. I had the pleasure of asking him some questions about his business.
Q. Where do you get all these books?
A. I get these books from a number of places. There’s a sign in my window right now that says “quality books wanted.” It says, “We buy, sale and trade books.” A lot of them come from people calling me up. Perhaps someone has passed away a few years ago, and their relatives are wondering what to do with the books; sometimes people are moving to another state or a smaller place and they want to sell some of their books. I go to estate sales, I go to auctions and really just as a response to the sign.
Q. And how do you make the decision to buy them?
A. I look very hard for certain categories of books. I am very interested in good art, photography, architecture, Newport history, nautical books- anything to do with sailing. I look the hardest for nonfiction. I’m always looking for things that are different or unique. I love to buy old leather books. Some are quite nice. My standards are that I want books in good condition. That’s important when selling a book.
Q. How do you feel about Kindle? As a book lover, I like to have a collection versus on the internet. It is not tangible or something you can hold.
A. I am old school. I like a real book but people will like what they like. That’s beyond my control. I think those things have value in anything having to do with reference or things like that. A paper book five years later is obsolete, but a digital book can be updated like that. But I still enjoy a book, a real book. Another thing about Kindle and others is when all the things are said and done, you’ll read the book, but you don’t own it. In other words, you won’t have a library. And I think it’s nice to go into a house that has books. Also you can’t give it to people or leave it for your children. You don’t have anything but the pleasure of reading it.
Q. What are some of the rarest books you have come across?
A. I have had things such as a beautiful signed Thomas Hardy book, which is very rare. I’ve had some Dickens first editions that were quite nice. This year I sold a Yeats signed limited edition poetry book from 1922. That was nice and it was limited to only 250 copies. Even in limited books, that’s a small number. I sold it to a book dealer in Boston, who doubled the price again.
Q. Do you find that a lot of buyers from here do that, come here and then sell it on the Internet?
A. There are a number of book dealers that are in a larger market than Newport, like New York or Boston and frankly they can get a higher price for a book than I can. In the city a book will sell for more than in Newport, so I give them a discount and they see the opportunity to make money.
Q. What is the average price range of your books?
A. I sell paper books for $2.95. I sell books in a wide variety of categories history, music, theater, and literature. Many of those books go from $5 to $10. Then there is the high-end stuff that you don’t sell as frequently and don’t acquire as frequently. Those can be quite expensive ranging up to several thousands of dollars.
Q. What are the types of customers that your store attracts?
A. I have some regulars and some Salve students, but they have to discover you are here and you hope they do that around their freshman year. I have a large military and history section and that’s the same situation, but I am talking about the War College. There is a turnover in the schools and the War College. On the island I have good loyal customers who have found the place and like the books and the prices.

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