From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mr. Fezziwig's Ball, Frontispiece, A Christmas Carol 1843

Nine years ago, Florida author and historian Les Standiford published a little book about a tiny slice of Charles Dickens' writing career. It wasn't a hefty biography, nor was it intended to be. It was merely the story of a writer whose career was starting to tank and his desperate attempt to revive it. That little book has gotten some more attention of late, as has Mr. Standiford himself, because of a movie, The Man Who Invented Christmas, which is based on the book and came out this season. Les Standiford heads the creative writing program at Florida International University and is on the faculty of the Writers in Paradise writing workshop at Eckerd College each January. Of course, we're happy for anything that draws attention once again to Charles Dickens and his works. At this festive time of year, we're delighted offer from our family to yours all the best of Christmas season.

For the final sale of the year, we're going back to the beginning of this quite remarkable year

And now we reach the final sale of our 40th year at Lighthouse Books, ABAA. It has been a magnificent year and we're so glad so many of our friends have come by to see us during this time. We're end the year as we started it  – with everything in the store on sale. We're glad to be able to bring this to you as a thank you for your support over the decades. So, come on in and browse. There's some special treasure waiting for you. And because it is the season of gift giving, we're certain you're going to find something perfect for the book lovers on your list. See you soon.

For October, we're going all Florida and Caribbean on you! Come find treasures

At last, books about Florida and the Caribbean are on sale at Lighthouse Books, ABAA. These, of course, are our bestsellers, and our favorites as well. It is our gift to you, our loyal customers. We know that you love Florida and the Caribbean as much as we do and that you're going to find something here to add to your collection. And, frankly, we're pleased that we can find good homes for these very special items. So, come on in and browse. There's some special treasure waiting for you.

How did Hurricane Irma treat you and yours? We're open again, and we're very thankful

As Hurricane Irma stormed up Florida peninsula, no one was quite sure what would become of us. This was certainly the biggest storm we've ever experienced in our four decades of doing business in St. Petersburg.

Forecasters kept us on pins and needles with numerous predictions but in the end no one really know what would happen when Irma would finally came ashore. Oh, sure. We watched the wall-to-wall television coverage, especially the devastation in the Caribbean islands. And images of the chaos wrought by Harvey in Texas was fresh in our minds. In the end, all we could do was take what precautions we could and hope and pray for the best.

Prayers answered. We had no injuries and no damage either at home or the store. The disruption caused by the storm will be with us for a time. Meanwhile, we're happy to say we're open for business and we'd love to see you again soon and hear how you fared in the storm.

Want to know more about the Peloponnesian War? Military history on sale all September

It's September and we're concerned with military history this month. Whether it's the First World War or the Peloponnesian War or most any other war (except for the American Civil War), we're putting military history on sale all month.

All books in that category priced at less than $100 are 40% off this month and all books in those categories prices at $100 or more are 20% off.

This sale is good for in-store purchases only.

Thank you for your continuing support of Lighthouse Books, ABAA. Come in and browse our shelves. We'd love to see you.

Please SHARE this video with your book loving friends.

If you want to receive an email notice about our sales, send your email address in a private message or an email to lighthousebooksabaa@gmail.com

Are you going places in August? Stop by for savings on all our books about transportation

During August, all our books on automobiles, railroads, ships and boats, and airplanes will be on sale. Books priced less than $100 will be 40% off and books prices $100 or more will be 20% off. This sale applies to in-store purchases only. It's all part of our year-long celebration of our 40 years in business as Lighthouse Books, ABAA. Thank you for your support over the years.

It's time to celebrate our nation's birthday even as we continue our 40th anniversary sale

July offers special opportunities for book lovers of all kinds. We're putting everything in the store on sale. That's right, you can save 25% on all books, maps, prints, and ephemera throughout the store. It doesn't matter what the category is, it's a 25% off. So this is a great chance to take home that special volume you've been wanting. As you know, usually books that are priced more than $100 are 20% off so this is an extra special time for really special items.

Just so you know, toward the end of the month we're going to be gone a lot. We're going to exhibit at the Tennessee Antiquarian Book Fair July 22-23, so we'll be gone then and a few days before that. Also, we have some appraisal work to do that will take us out of the store. Best bets will be Tuesdays and Thursdays but it's going to be wise for you to call to make sure someone is here if you're coming to the store during that time.

Early in the month there will be more opportunities. However, keep in mind that we're open today (Saturday, July 1) but we'll be closed Monday and Tuesday for the Fourth of July holiday. See you again on Wednesday, July 5.

If you're reading this after the holiday is over, just give us a call to make sure we're here. As always, we'd love to see you and we hope you'll come for a visit and allow plenty of time to explore all the way through the store.

Only a couple more weeks to take advantage of our half-off sale on world history, travel

It's mid-June and time is running out on our 50% off sale on travel books and history books from around the world. All books in those categories priced less than $100 are half off. All books in those categories priced $100 or more are 20% off. This is part of our year-long celebration of our 40th anniversary at Lighthouse Books, ABAA. Each month, different categories are on sale. If you want to be alerted about these sales events, send us an email at lighthousebooksabaa@gmail.com.

Are you going to far away places with strange sounding names? Make sure you see us first.

For the month of June, we're going places, and you can, too. It's the month when many travel so we're putting our travel books and our world history books on sale. That means whether you're going on vacation to a distant land or just planning to stay around home and dream of taking a trip, we can help you get the most out of whatever you choose. Plus, we can do it in a particularly big way. All of our travel and world history books priced less than $100 are 50% off (that's half price). All of our travel and world history books priced $100 or more are 20% off.  So, be a suitcase traveler or be an armchair traveler. Whichever you choose, come see us before you get out to town. See you soon.

We had a marvelous time at OE Book Fair

We were delighted to participate in the OE Book Fair at Oxford Exchange in Tampa on Sunday, May 7, 2017. We had our own little room for displaying a sampling of what Lighthouse Books, ABAA is all about. We were pleased to introduce the store to some visitors who where unaware of us.

Rare book appraiser Michael Slicker has owned Lighthouse Books, ABAA in St. Petersburg, Florida, for 40 years. Lighthouse Books, ABAA specializes in antiquarian books, serving St. Petersburg, Tampa, the Tampa Bay area and all of Florida. In addition to rare books, out-of-print books, used books, antique maps, vintage prints, and antique photographs, Lighthouse Books, ABAA also offers expert appraisals of antiquarian books, maps, prints, photographs, and ephemera.

Sunday at the Oxford Exchange Book Fair: Book evaluations and books for you to buy

We're setting up shop at the Oxford Exchange Book Fair in Tampa this Sunday, and, quite frankly, we're looking forward to it. This is the third year for this delightful little event and it gets better every year.

Of course, we'll have a collection of carefully selected volumes available for purchase but we'll also take a look at your books and evaluate them. We'll give you a rough idea of what they are and what they might be worth. We perform a similar service at the Friends of the Library event periodically, and we're always happy to do it.

There are a number of local authors and literary dignitaries scheduled for the event as well, including our friends Colette Bancroft, book editor at Tampa Bay Times, and Lee Irby, author of the new novel Unreliable. Theirs should be an interesting discussion of the author as an unreliable narrator.

Oxford Exchange is, of course, also a restaurant, so come hungry and enjoy some of the delectable offering on the menu.

You can get more information about the OE Book Fair here. See you Sunday.

Save 40% on art, antiques, architecture, children's books, and illustrated books

It's May, and it's time for another in our continuing celebration sales marking our 40th year in business.

This month, it's books on art, antiques, architecture, children's books, and illustrated books. You save 40% on book under $100 and 20% on books $100 or more.

We know you're enjoying these sales because we keep seeing you each month. Let us know how we're doing. And if you're feeling generous, SHARE with your friends.

Come in and browse. See you soon. If you want to receive an email notice about our sales, enter your email in the column on the left where it says GET SALES ALERTS or send an email to lighthousebooksabaa@gmail.com. 

Music by Kevin MacLeod: Barroom Ballet. Released into the public domain (CC Zero)

Watch for more videos during the year to hear about all of our sales.

Americana, American history sale continues

We're half way through the month. That means there are only a couple of weeks to go in our Americana and American History sale – 40% off books under $100 and 20% off books $100 or more. And don't forget the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair coming up next weekend, April 21-23. See you soon!

For all of April, our American history and Americana books are on sale at 40% off

Here are our special offerings for April as we continue to celebrate our 40th anniversary with sales each month during the year!

This sale includes Americana and American history under $100, Americana and American history volumes priced at $100 or more are 20% off. This does not include Florida history or Civil War books.

Come in and browse. See you soon. If you want to receive an email notice about our sales, send your email address in a private message or an email to lighthousebooksabaa@gmail.com

Lighthouse Books, ABAA specializes in antiquarian books, serving St. Petersburg, Tampa, the Tampa Bay area and all of Florida. In addition to rare books, out-of-print books, antique maps and vintage prints and antique photographs, Lighthouse Books, ABAA also offers expert antiquarian book appraisals.

Music by Kevin MacLeod: Barroom Ballet. Released into the public domain (CC Zero)

Watch for more videos during the year to hear about all of our sales.

For March, all gardening, horticulture, and natural history books are on sale in the store

Here's Michael Slicker, proprietor of Lighthouse Books, ABAA, to tell about the sale in March. All gardening, horticulture, and natural history books less than $100 are 40% off. All gardening, horticulture, and natural history books $100 or more are 20% off. Sales must be made on the premises and paid in full at the time of purchase.

We're celebrating 40 years of Lighthouse Books, ABAA during all of 2017 with special sales each month. Watch for more videos during the year to hear about all of our sales. To be sure you receive notice of our sales please email us at lighthousebooksabaa@gmail.com and request to be put on our email list.

Here's what's on sale for February during our huge yearlong 40th anniversary celebration

We're celebrating 40 years of Lighthouse Books, ABAA during all of 2017 with special sales each month. Here's Michael Slicker, proprietor of Lighthouse Books, ABAA, to tell about the sale in February. All literary books and books on books less than $100 are 40% off. All literary books and books on books $100 or more are 20% off. Sales must be made on the premises and paid in full at the time of purchase.

Watch for more videos during the year to hear about all of our sales. To be sure you receive notice of our sales please email us at lighthousebooksabaa@gmail.com and request to be put on our email list.

Stephen Crane's boat to Cuba sank in rough seas off Florida's coast on this day in 1897

On this day in 1897, Stephen Crane, a young reporter for the New York Press, was on his way to Cuba to cover the Cuban battle for independence from Spain. Crane made a deal with the captain of the SS Commodore, former harbor tugboat serving as a gun-runner to aid the Cuban rebels.

Crane hired on as an able-bodied seaman to get to Cuba. Unfortunately for Crane, the steamboat sank in heavy seas 12 miles off the coast of Florida. The crew and Cuban rebel passengers boarded lifeboats but didn't fare well in the storm. Crane joined the captain and a couple of crew members in a 10-foot dinghy. Crane's harrowing account of the 30-hour ordeal at sea was widely published at the time and became the short story The Open Boat, that remains a favorite in American literature.

Crane was already well known for his war novel, The Red Badge of Courage, that had been published a couple of years before. Readers marveled at how real his story seemed – chock-full as it was of astonishing detail – but Crane never experienced war first-hand. With The Open Boat, Crane had plenty of first-hand experience.

Fast-forward almost 100 years, and a Jacksonville University English professor, who was also a diver, set into motion a search for the wreck of the SS Commodore. That effort eventually led to three seasons of professional archaeological field work in 2002-2004 that established the location of the wreck and positive identification of artifacts from the steamboat.

We have an extensive collection of Florida history both online and in our store in St. Petersburg. Visit our website and come see us in the store. Subscribe to our blog to get email alerts about new articles. LIKE us on Facebook and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to get alerts about new videos we've published.