Unattributed “A Wonderful Book Store. Leary’s Book Store, Ninth Street below Market, Philadelphia”

Unattributed. “A Wonderful Book Store.  Leary’s Book Store, Ninth Street below Market, Philadelphia.” 

Ca. 20^th century.  24 x 18 (sheet).  Lithograph.  Very good condition. 

Leary's Book Store was a landmark in Philadelphia for nearly one hundred years. It was at 9 South 9^th Street and when it closed in 1969 it was known as the oldest book store in the United States.  This wonderful advertisement shows a man on a ladder and is after the painting “The Bookworm” by Karl Spitzweg.  It became the symbol of Leary’s Bookstore.  A favorite place for bargains and a huge selection, the store was known up and down the entire east coast.  We have heard stories of families in Connecticut getting on a train with shopping bags to for a day of book hunting at Leary’s.