Door-To-Door Bookstores
A depiction of a 19th century book agent canvassing a farmer.
"Success in book selling is not a matter of luck," advises a small pamphlet written at the beginning of the 20th century for new door-to-door agents who had signed on to peddle a special memorial edition on Queen Victoria. "No matter how valuable or attractive a book may be," it continues, "the strong features must be shown and the customer convinced that it is valuable for himself or family before an order can be taken." This sage advice was given time and time again to new book canvasse...