Tavistock Books

I bought a wonderful set of the History of Alameda County, California from Vic earlier in the year. The books were in absolutely wonderful condition and reasonably priced as well. Vic was kind enough to let me place the books on layaway as I paid for the books. His kindness and attention to detail in the selection and care of his books is absolutely excellent and I really enjoying purchasing these from him. I hope to be able to purchase more History of California/​Gold Rush items from him in the future. Thank you again Vic.

Love this bookstore. I just wandered in after spin class, looking like hell and smelling less than a rose. The staff was lovely and very helpful. I ended up purchasing a vintage 1955 movie poster of Steinbeck’s East of Eden. The owner, a very nice guy, gave me a great price that I almost feel guilty about.
The store itself looks like a movie set. Wooden cabinetry filled with beautiful vintage tomes that reminds you that the best things in life are offline!

Just be a nice person. Rudeness is a waste of calories.

Vic was rude, proprietary, unhelpful. He came to my home to look at a number of books that i was getting rid of. I felt like he was doing me a favor. If i asked a question, he wouldn’t give me any answers because he felt i should be paying him for his information… mind you, these were just general questions, some just to have a conversation. He cherry picked, paid under the amount that he should have and was just plain a jerk. I was so angry when he left that i vowed never to patronize him again

I drive by this place at least twice a week, and in the last two years I can count on my fingers how many times I’ve seen this place open. I’ve gone in twice, and one of those times was today.
The owner didn’t greet me, but his assistant did, and was quite cordial, which I appreciate, but she actually asked the owner’s permission to show me a book that was just on the shelf. (?!)
I asked the owner if he had any illustrated copies of a certain book, and was informed that he did not. Then, I asked if he had ever had a particular rare illustration. He told me it existed. I gently inquired further, mentioning I’d been in a year and a half ago, and was curtly told that a copy of the illustration might come in tomorrow, and might come in ten years from now.
End. Of. Conversation.
No «can I take your name, I’ll tell you when I get it.»
(Even though the owner was sitting in front of a book database on his computer into which he could have probably entered my name)
No «Check Back Regularly»
No «Well, I have these instead!»
So, I guess I’m supposed to walk by every day in hopes that I can catch him on the two random days he bothers to come into work in the next six months, and hope that he gets a copy of the illustration in less than ten years.
Reading these reviews, I feel he must have decided I wasn’t going to buy anything, though I would have been inclined to had the owner behaved towards me in a friendly way, encouraged me to browse, or even had anything remotely resembling what I expressed interest in. Maybe they had a good selection of books, but since I kind of got the impression that I was not welcome to browse by the fact that the owner was rude and I had to knock on the door to be let in when the store was open, I didn’t stay to look around.
You sir, are the reason God invented Ebay.
Actually, I can sum up the customer service of Tavistock books by noting that you have to knock on the door to be let in, and there’s a sign next to the entrance which says «Rottweiler in Residence.»
Also, I wish I could give half stars. This place would have gotten 1 and ½, because at least they didn’t try to kill me.

There are a number of bookstores throughout the bay area that I try to visit regularly enough, in case they recently good collections, put out new stock, or in some cases, just to say hi. This place is not on that list due to the rudeness of whomever I spoke to when I stopped by there last.

Some rare book dealers make you wonder why they’re in the biz. After talking a bit with Vic, owner of Tavistock Books, you wonder how he could have ever done anything else (but apparently he’s an ex-​lawyer…)
The shop has really excellent books, especially fiction from the Victorian and modern periods. Sometimes it boasts the finest copy available of certain works, with quite high (but never unjustifiable) prices.
As a courtesy it’s probably best to call before arriving, but it’s a fairly open shop and they don’t seem to have a problem with customers just dropping by.

Respectable collection of books, but if the owner thinks you’re not planning on buying anything that day he’ll be abominably rude.

Simply excellent and elegant atiquarian bookstore. Best collection of certain arcane books (read, Bohemian Club volumes), and numerous others by small local defunct presses. The gentleman will set up personal appointments for perusal of collections as well.

Nice neighborhood antiquarian, quality bookshop. One step inside and you can smell the respect and pride taken in this shop.
Every time I step foot in this store I find something that needs to leave with me. My shelves weigh heavily with this addiction. If you are a bibliophile or grandiloquent, enjoy some time spent perusing the corners of this fine, well-​kept and fair-​priced bookstore.