We are back again after two months in the lovely country of Costa Rica. Three years ago, after our first trip, I did a couple of stories about book shopping in Costa Rica and came to the conclusion that there weren't a whole lot of readers there. That still holds true to some extent for most Costa Ricans, but this time I discovered several new and interesting bookstores that cater to fiction-starved ex-pats and tourists.
We covered a whole lot more of the country this time, from 10,000 foot peaks to hot, muggy jungles, to Pacific seashores, to rich farmland. We saw monkeys, snakes, an ocelot, a pair of pumas, a crocodile, an alligator, a zillion vividly-colored birds, bugs in all sizes, shapes, and colors, and some amazing frogs. The country is so varied that one could pick just about any type of climate and find it there. In some ways, it was very difficult to come home, but one thing they don't have is a proper high desert, and we are, after all, desert rats. They also have the world's most annoying showerheads, commonly referred to as "suicide showers," probably because after using them for a while you want to commit suicide (or murder).
Our most infuriating mishap was when my backpack was stolen right from under a chair (while I was sitting in it) in a bus station. The worst part was that our camera was in it, so I apologize for the quality of the accompanying pictures. Otherwise they got dirty laundry and, woe is me, my supply of unread paperbacks, curse them! So, we bought a couple of throw-away cameras and replaced the lost clothes at one of the Ropa Americanas, great little clothing stores that carry seconds and second hand American clothing for $1.00 to $3.00. It was easy to replace T-shirts, a sweater, and a couple of pairs of pedal pushers.
But, where to find something to read! So, we revisited Morro Books in the capital city of San Jose. Last time we were there it was just a funky, badly lit, and poorly laid out bookstore with nothing to recommend it and barely any books worth reading. This time, however, they had moved to another building. The store didn't look like much from the outside (that's typical of C.R.), but inside it had possibilities. The layout and stock were both greatly improved. They were still in the process of unpacking hundreds of boxes of books, but had a very good selection of what I call "traveler's books" which included a number of English language paperback mysteries that we had not read. I also found a first edition of one of my favorite mystery writers, Jacqueline Winspear; the first of the Maisie Dobbs series. They have a decent selection of nearly new and used books which includes some Costa Rica travel books. Sometimes, you may also find the New York Times and/or the Washington Post. They do a reader's exchange and carry some good foreign language tomes.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
