Commonwealth Books

1:32 p.m. Boston, MA I was on my way to a comic book store when I noticed a narrow alleyway and a black awning tucked between tall buildings. Curiosity won. Down the brick path was Commonwealth Books, a small shop that felt like something straight out of Harry Potter. Inside were shelves of old prints and forgotten titles stacked to the ceiling. The kind man working there told me about the cat in the photo wall, once the resident of their sister store in New Orleans. I wish I could have met that cat. It didn’t have what I was looking for, but it didn’t matter. Some places exist just to remind you that wonder still hides in plain sight. Praise the Hidden Alley.

What a delight to see a bookstore filled with people! In my first ever visit the other day I found large selections of what I was hoping to explore: art monographs, literature, and cookbooks. The gentleman at the desk was both helpful and kind. I look forward to returning- this is a gem!

Cozy, eclectic, and diverse. Classic used bookstore with lots of shelves, cubbies, piles, and bins ready to explore. A little tricky to find, it's worth the wander. Found a couple more volumes of a series I've been trying to complete. Welcoming staff let's you explore but are ready for questions if you need them. Loved it!

A quaint, hidden gem of boston! They have books, old maps, comics, special edition copies etc. The shopkeepers were super nice and helpful with recommendations and let us browse all we wanted- 10/10 would recommend popping in for a visit!

A true hidden gem! I could have spent hours here, found some amazing books but I am sure I missed a lot! Get ready to dig deep as there is not an inventory as such but books are organized by topic. Over 50 thousand!! Really recommend to any book enthusiast. Clerk was very nice as well and prices are great!

Amazing antique bookstore of old books and prints. This store is well organized and collected by this gentleman. The old prints are precious. Make sure to come here to look for any book to pick up and not to find a specific book.

Great little bookstore just off the main road down an alley. It’s a fairly small place but the amount of books they have is quite impressive, something here for almost anyone. My only issue if they put all of the fiction together so if you are looking for a specific genre it will be much more difficult to find since you have every fiction genre combined with is a lot a different books. Overall if you’re in the area check it out, it’s pretty cool.

A crazy selection of second hand books! If you're looking for contemporary bestsellers, you'll be out of luck, but this place is worth a visit just to peruse the antique prints and shelves of closely-stacked eccentric tomes. It's lovely that places like this still exist - surprising that they're able to make it work given how niche their books are!

5 Stars for an old bookstore that made my day and staff that clearly enjoy their workplace! I had a day to wander Boston and found this bookstore in Yelp. It's in a little alley and as soon as you see it, you feel like you've found a special place. Inside you'll find absolute gems of antique books as well as modern books, all laid out in order of topic and author. Though it may look disorganized, it is anything but. I found a Gabriel Garcia Marquez book that would make for the perfect reading in the park surrounded by ducks. I really appreciated spending time looking around and exploring sections that wouldn't normally interest me. Books I never expected to be drawn to. Did I already say this space is special? As I was checking out, I mentioned how I felt about this place and the gentlemen at the counter smiled and agreed. There could have been snark and pretentiousness against a clear tourist, but that was nowhere to be found. Genuine kindness and passion existed instead. I'll definitely be back and buy many more books next time I'm in town. What a special, special place.

Like everyone else, I stumbled upon this book store tucked away while exiting the T station. It is a very nice and interesting little book store with an incredible aesthetic. While the books are placed al about, there are gems hidden within and it makes it all the more enticing to hunt and find old novels and historical masterpieces. There are even many old maps and pieces for hanging on a wall of an office. The prices are god and you will find very interesting an even funny old books that were once important and widely used. I highly recommend visiting to experience this store. It is worth a trip and so interesting.

My happy place. I come down a few times a week to browse and almost always leave with a newly bought gem. This isn't where to go if you want a new release-it's mostly antiques or at least very old books. A ton of antique maps and such, and if you ask the gentleman who runs it if he has anything in particular topic wise he can usually lead you there-even to obscure shelves in the midst of it all. Truly a pro in his craft. This is what every bookstore lover deserves. The smell of books feels so homey and despite the clutter it doesn't feel cluttered it feels RIGHT.

Wandering through the tight alleys, you stumble into this literary labyrinth--every corner filled with pages whispering stories of a bygone era. Books stacked high, maps scattered like treasure waiting to be discovered. A haven for the curious. Worth losing track of time.

Stumbled on this bookstore while exploring the Freedom Trail. Located on the oldest street in Boston (Spring Lane c.1630) near the Old South Meeting House, it was fun to explore the stacks and shelves of old books, maps and manuscripts. The books are tucked in every nook and cranny of this bookstore. Bookshelves filled from floor to ceiling. More stacks on the floor. Nice to be able to turn the pages of books that are older than our country. Explore the bins and bins of old maps and illuminated manuscripts. Interesting to see historic maps of Boston. Love their "new" books this week which includes old books. How about a first edition, first folio collection of poems published by Thomas Gray in 1753 bound in leather? Or a book on Prince Albert's travels including maps from the 1880s? Or a copy of Ian Fleming's Casino Royale? I can definitely see why this is a top five bookstore in Boston. Step off the Freedom Trail and step into history through books and maps.

A somewhat hidden gem that's cozy, friendly, and full of treasures. It's so easy to lose hours here, browsing their ever changing collection. One of my favorite places in Boston.

Just about the coolest little book ever. A little hard to find as it's tucked in a crook of an alley near state street station. If you can find it, it's a treasure!

Awesome! As someone who appreciates old Books and art. This place was a gem and honestly how many books stores have survived.

My son's love for old books and maps is no secret. This place was tucked away in one of those walking only "streets" between buildings in Boston. He was in absolute heaven. There were maps for sale that were older than Boston, and books from all over the world that were the oldest I've ever seen in person. Truly a bibliophiles paradise. Don't miss stopping by if you love antique books and out-of-prints.

We happened across this used book store on our way back to our hotel. Interesting selections, including some original medieval illuminations. Prices on some items were high, but if you're looking for paperbacks, you'll find them here. I did not see a children's book section.

Worth spending an hour exploring their collection and looking for treasures. An ever changing inventory of books

I first stumbled upon commonwealth books a year ago while walking along the freedom trail. An unassuming black and white sign pointed down a narrow alleyway to a hidden storefront. Upon walking in, I was hit with the smell of old paper. Now, coming back a year later, I was hit with that same comforting smell. The walls are lined with bookshelves full of books- old and new alike. In the center of the store there were tables with stacks upon stacks of prints, from botanical, to anatomical, to advertisements, there's something for every art lover/history buff. In another section, stacks of maps piled up, some small, and some too large to fit on the table. There are sections for fiction, history, psychology, philosophy, political science, linguistics, botany, and much more. Rest assured dear reader, everyone who enters this magical little book store will find something for them. 5 stars, would've spent hours in there in time permitted, but unfortunately it didn't.

The owner has a lot of very cool rare books, maps, and manuscripts. They're almost all sold. Oh, and don't take any food or beverage in that area. There are rules here. Eclectic collection of (regular) books and maps. I probably would have bought some maps but alas, I only have a carry on for my trip home. I love old maps. There are books everywhere. On the floor. Under tables. Outside. The collection is hard to piece together as far as logic, but whatever. Still worth stopping by to see what he has in stock and you want to follow all the rules and be checked on to make sure you're not stealing. (I wasn't.) Also- no restrooms. There are signs (multiple.)

You know that smell you get when you walk into a bookstore? The one that smacks you in the face? That's what you get when walking into Commonwealth. It's a quirky joint, sort of in an alley (not sketch) but it has a lot of character. You can find all kinds of interesting art/maps/rare books, etc. Little posters around the place show off it's fun/unique sense of self. I love my kindle, but there's something about holding/reading a real book that can't be beat. Most of the books here are used, so don't expect the B&N vibe. But I don't mind that so much. Used books have more character, and are usually less costly. Stay Cheerful ;)

Not the best store for young people who aren't super into old books. I found the shelves to be really disorganized (the alphabetical order books were out of order, having some Y books before W and so on). I couldn't really find anything here. But on a good note, the staff seemed super duper friendly.

This bookstore was such an awesome accidental find: we wandered into it when we needed a stop on the Freedom Trail. Boy, am I glad we did. This is a wonderful, well-curated selection of old and antique books. It isn't large, but they make the most of the space, stacking sleeves from floor to ceiling, and occasionally a stack on the floor. Everything is well marked and well organized, and if you can't find your section of interest, just ask, and the friendly guy at the desk will direct you and answer your questions. I spent a good chunk of time with the cookbooks in a back room, and found a 1940s treasure by an author I'm not familiar with (but apparently had a radio show back in the day). My daughter spent her time with the poetry, and found some lovely antique volumes, and finally settled on a collection. The prices can be quite steep, so check the prices marked on the first page - but also ask if there is a discount, because we were pleasantly surprised to receive 20% off due to a midwinter sale. This shop should be on every booklover's list when visiting Boston.

Awesome bookstore! My mom, aunt, and I saw a "BOOKSTORE" sign leading down a dark alley and knew we had to follow our hearts. Once inside, we spent an ecstatic half hour browsing art prints, local history books, cookbooks, fiction, and texts on Eastern European history and Slavic studies. I picked out three awesome-looking books from the latter to surprise my slavicist at home -- he was pleased! My mom also found an awesome history/cookbook from a famous restaurant which she'd been looking for for ages. The owner even gave us a 10% "construction discount" because the shop front in the aforementioned dark alley was being repaired and had unwelcoming-looking scaffolding surrounding it. Didn't stop us, though. Cat was snoozing and lent a warmness to an already awesome space. Sadly, we had to leave because the shop was closing, but I want to go back for sure!

Its an old book store with a large selection, not much else to say. Got to search hard for some things, but I think thats the point of this kind of shop.

Wow, there's not much to say about this place other than it being a book lovers heaven! In all my time exploring bookshops, I have yet to come across one of the likes of Commonwealth Books. This place is filled to the brim with old and antique books, not to mention it's very organized and easy to browse between categories. I would recommend coming in with an idea of what you're looking for though or you'll get lost. The books here range in price from $10 -$1000 (at least as far as I've seen) and some of the books date hundreds of years back. Despite the antiquity though, the books are all in excellent condition. Another plus about this place was the cat sleeping in the shop, so cute and super sweet! If I'm ever in the area again I wouldn't miss this place, it's totally worth the detour!

Decidedly my new favorite bookstore. I almost passed right by this place, but I'm glad I went in! This place has an excellent selection of used and rare books. I found so many great volumes that I considered using their mailing service. Prices were very good, with online prices listed for comparison. The organization of the shop was also very good. The lady who runs this place is wonderful and wonderfully helpful. Selection was especially good in art and history. There were even some foreign language books on the shelves. A must-see for book lovers. Be warned that parking is the area is outrageous. So plan to walk or use transit.

I loved exploring Commonwealth Books! You can find rare books, art, maps and more books than you'd expect to find. I was visiting Boston and was happy to have noticed CB. I could have stayed for hours, so many interesting things to see and read. I loved the quotes, the pictures of authors and locations taped to the shelves and the random places to sit and absorb while listening to some cool jazz music piped over the speakers. The employee at the counter was friendly and knowledgeable. I was only there for about an hour but there were several people who came in and out to either buy or sell books during that time. I love that Boston supports used bookstores!

When John, below, wrote that this place "looks like a shop in Diagon Alley", he hit the nail on the head. This bookstore is straight out of a movie, with its old-world charm and nooks and crannies and labyrinth-like interior and floor-to-ceiling shelving crammed with books. It's exactly what I'd mentally conjure up when thinking of a bookstore in an old, historic part of Boston. My kids and I stumbled in here when the youngest said she needed a Latin-English dictionary and we saw the sign for this bookstore. It was meant to be, that we'd find this place. And the gentleman inside, upon hearing what we needed, proceeded to lead us, through the narrow maze of book-filled aisles, immediately to the book we needed. How awesome to find such an esoteric book, so quickly, and the price was really reasonable too. (All the books here are used, or are super-old/antique books). The store ships books anywhere in the US, so you don't need to shlep your purchases home, if you're a visitor to the city. I believe they are open 7 days a week, too. There were lots of bins of old etchings and prints, too. We all wished we had more time, as we could've spent the whole day exploring this gem of a store!

Awesome bookstore in Boston, tucked away in an alley. They have all kinds of old books, and manuscripts- some date back to the 16th century!

This is the kind of bookstore that you only read about in books. An air of mystery and excitement just spills from the shelves of this place. I love how the shelves extend all the way up to the ceiling with rare books, out of print manuscripts, dusty old tomes, and encylopediae of all types. My favorite part of this store is the section on rare prints- some of them have been just cut from the pages of an over-sized book, but they're sorted and priced to move. They all seem to be incredibly old, and would look great on any wall. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and let me just browse at my own leisure. They seemed as laid back as the orange cat that patrols the premises. They were at the ready to answer any questions, but weren't trying to sell me on every book I glanced at, which was most welcoming. The store was clean, (a bit dusty, but that's to be expected for an old bookstore!) and well lit. I happened on to it in a back alley of the Finance District, so keep an eye out!

If you lived in the Boston this would be a fantastic book store to go to every day of you were looking for hard to find books. We were in the store for about 2 hours and each time someone asked for something, the guy at the counter said the same thing "we don't have that today, that author goes quickly... when we get something like that in, it usually gets sold the same day". It is a place you need to frequent a lot. However, there are still some good finds in here. It is quirky and if you spend time looking you there are still good finds to be found

Randomly stopped in here today for the first time and was immediately in love. While Commonwealth may not present itself in the same way chain bookshops do, it has infinite treasures and way more charm. The owner is a very nice and knowledgeable man who seems to have a very good idea of all the items he stocks at any particular moment (which is no small number). The prices here are so reasonable and the used books are in great quality. I wish that I had endless amounts of time to roam free in the store!

I am not much a book enthusiast, but I just loved the atmosphere of Commonwealth Books. I went in to take a look and I was pleasantly surprised. You get that small local bookstore vibe; something out of a movie. Actually, I'm a big movie lover and I noticed as I approached the bookstore that it is one of the filming locations for The Equalizer 2 (starting Denzel Washington), so that was super cool! My movie nerd self was freaking out about that.

Owner has amazing knowledge about nearly every item in the store which is insane because it is an absolute maze of books stacked ceiling high.

It's a neat book shop, I'm not much of an old book collector, but I winded up purchasing a set possibly written in the 1800's which was cool, something to shake up the shelf at home. They also had some neat maps and art from Boston history, not sure how rare they are. I loved all the cultural history topics available and it's a wonderful place to immerse yourself but highly unorganized.

If you were as disappointed that the Old Corner Bookstore along the Freedom Trail is actually a Chipotle as much as I was then take heart, a real book shop is right across the street. Tucked back off the main road in an alley is Commonwealth. A nice book shop that is very well organized. They have a great selection of vintage books and maps of the Boston area. Boston has a lot of great used book stores and you could make a day of seeing them all. Commonwealth would definitely be on the ones to visit. It would be nice if they had a greater selection of discounted books but the prices are very reasonable for the quality they have. I found some great cookbooks (Jacques Pepin's La Technique and Claudia Fleming's The Last Course ) and architectural books that were very specific such as the stone structures of the plazas of Venice Italy. No cappuccino sold here and no big comfy chairs to lounge in but that's ok because hunting through books is the fun part.

This review is for Leonardo DeKittie....he is the king of the bookstore. He showed me this book which I purchased, 1rst edition in 1916...

I love eclectic bookstores like these. It's a nice homey place, and the owner is really friendly. I love to look at all the old books in there.

Great book store with lots of prints and older out-of-print/historic titles. You can spend a lot of time here. Very good military history book sections -- lots of European history titles too. I try to hit it on every trip to Boston. Usually come away with something great. 9 Spring Lane is tucked away - close to the intersection of Water Street and Devonshire Street. Charming store. Great selection.

This is a serious book store. The poetry section is first rate. The art books are really incredible. The prices are very fair and they have other sections beyond my interests that I assume are great. The old and rare books are amazing to see.

I spent a couple of hours in this book shop over the weekend while in Boston. In terms of Boston bookstores, yes has about intermediate prestige somewhere between Brattle book shop on the low-end and Bromer on the high end. I bought this really great 170-year-olds map of Paris. They have all kinds of great stuff here.

This is one of the only true bookstores for real bibliophiles. Do not expect your typical selection of pop-lit here. This is as eclectic as a bookstore gets. If you've read "The Club Dumas", this is the kind of bookstore you might have found in the pages of that book. In addition to their huge selection of vintage, first edition, autographed, and used books, they have a gorgeous selection of vintage and fine-looking reproduction prints from the 18th - 19th century, all suitable for framing. They're not inexpensive, but for vintage artwork, their prices are certainly reasonable. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and always willing to help. This is a semi-hidden gem that shines despite its location in a wee side-street in downtown crossing. Discover it for yourself, you won't regret it!

Commonwealth Books is a rare find! It is a used and antique bookstore located in Boston, MA. It's a great place for collectors and bibliophiles alike. It has one of the largest number of history books that I've ever seen outside of a large library. An entire wall of the store is devoted to history from ceiling to floor, including very difficult-to-find books. It also has a large art/art history section, and various sections on architecture, literature/literary criticism, poetry, philosophy and religion, business/economics, and other topics (including works of fiction). They even have medieval manuscript leaves and art monographs. Unlike most used bookstores, Commonwealth Books is organized quite well (though not perfectly). Nonetheless, you should expect to spend a bit of time searching and browsing if you are here (unless you are looking for a very specific title). You can also ask them to ship your books, if desired. One last comment: people have given a few negative reviews about the customer service. But I had minimal interaction with the staff, so I can't comment much on that. From my little interaction, the staff members were quite polite and helpful. I will definitely return the next time I'm in Boston.

A wonderful little hidden gem tucked in a pocket of downtown Boston. Shelves overflowing with books and stacks of books on the floor. You're bound to pick one up that interests you and flip through it which means you could lose yourself for hours just browsing through their collections. What makes me love these little independent bookstores is when there's this one book that just eludes me - I walk into a hundred different local bookstores (used/new/independent or even larger chains like B&N) and they just don't have a copy of that darn book I want - and then I walk into this one (thousands of miles away from home), ask for it and they instantly know what book you're talking about (without the help of a computer!) and even though everything Seems disorganized they lead you straight to it within seconds. It seriously all went down in less than 30 seconds. It's amazing!

I honestly came here because I knew there was a cat who likes to hang around here. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love bookstores. But the way to my heart is through cute animals. So I made a point to stop here. Although Dusty seemed a little cranky when I went, he put up with the small petting session I gave him. He's a very mellow fellow. I did take a little while to look around. It's got floor to ceiling shelves of all kinds of used books, mostly on the older side. I was especially enthused by the music biography section, since I am a classical musician myself. They didn't have the composer I was looking for (Mahler), but I did enjoy looking through the other selections. I didn't buy anything, but it was a fun experience to get to look around here and give Dusty some SoCal love. I'll definitely stop by on my next trip!

Awesome place for rare, out of print and generally hard to find scholarly books. They have an amazing art and art history section, a nice selection of French history and a small but refreshing selection of classical history texts. I picked up a like new out of print book book on Cleopatra here last weekend. I also love just browsing around. One time I stopped in here with my mom despite having a really bad stomach bug and ended up staying here perched in a chair for over an hour looking through books which caused my mom to remark... well... you can't be THAT sick. The selection here is that good. Even if you're not feeling well you can still not resist the urge to browse.

Not sure how this is my first visit here, but I was happy to stumble upon it after walking by one weekend afternoon. It turns out that it's a pretty dangerous place for me and my wallet to frequent at the same time, however. I think my husband was about to forcibly remove me from the store. It really suggests the age old dilemma: books or a downpayment? One needs space to house one's books, but it's really a chicken-egg situation. I will be back to drool over their 17th, 18th, and 19th century history sections-- house or no house.

Looking for that newest Dean Koontz hardcover? Can't wait to try your hand at some of Sandra Lee's recipes? Are you looking for that book "with the blue cover" that Oprah had on her show two years ago? This is probably not the bookstore for you. Shame the Borders across the street closed. Generally speaking, this is a bookstore for people who aren't looking for a particular book and just want to bask in the treasure hunt. It's the perfect rainy day, lay down on the (hopefully clean) floor and scan the piles for books you didn't know you wanted kind of place. Whether you want to spend $6 on a used Murakami or $1500 on a first-edition Robert Frost, Commonwealth Books will not disappoint. Also, this is home of Rusty, whom I have dubbed "the sleepiest cat in Boston".

One of the coolest bookstores I've ever been in. More spacious than the outside would imply, and every nook and cranny has a book. There's even a local resident cat named Dusty! While I'm putting inexpensive for the price ($) they do have rare antique books that range into the thousands. While they didn't have the books I was looking for, I'd definitely come back here, even just to browse around. It's just a great place in general. They have books in English, Spanish, French, German, and I'm sure some other languages that I didn't see.

This place just makes me feel happy. Most bookstores have that effect on me, but this is the kind of place that you feel lost in just after a few minutes of looking around. And then stay for a few hours. When you finally emerge, the world has gone on spinning, but you feel like time just stopped for you and all the books. They've got something for everyone. And they offer shipping for those travelers like myself who could fill suitcases with books alone. I love supporting independent booksellers and the history in this place is really cool with their first editions and vintage books. So cool.

As far as used bookstores go, this isn't the largest or the most all-encompassing one I've been to, but as someone who is usually looking for older, out-of-print books on obscure subjects, I've found that Commonwealth on Boylston is one of the few used bookstores in the area that carries what I'm looking for. In particular, if you are interested in nautical and/or whaling history, they have a fantastic selection of nautical books in their basement. The Japan section is also similarly wonderful. The staff is pretty friendly. The prices are on par with what I've seen at other bookstores in the area, but I've found that Commonwealth tends to carry books for cheap that are sold online at used sellers for 3 or 4x the price. A good duck-in for a rainy day or if you're just passing by Boston Common.

Like restaurants, hotels, thrift shops and shopping malls all around the world, used book stores have their own quirky character and their own unique aura. Some specialize in hard to find, out of print treasures. Others have a little of everything at great, low prices. Some are just ridiculously overpriced warehouses filled with books of all kinds, all marked at prices that make absolutely no sense. The used book world is a funny one. Commonwealth Books is for the serious book collector and the book lover. It's a warm inviting space worth seeking out. You won't find the latest best sellers at rock bottom prices. You won't find too many unique, well priced hidden treasures. (Although I did find one years ago- a first edition copy of a Jane Kenyon poetry book signed and inscribed by her- for $8.50. It was worth a lot more.) You will find books of high quality on a variety of topics. Their prices are fair and all of the books are well displayed and protected. (Nothing worse for the collector of modern books than seeing high priced volumes without a Brodart cover to keep the jacket nice and safe.) It's filled with all kinds of art books, poetry, history and fiction. No cheap paperbacks. It's cozy and inviting, the way a used book shop should be. Even some cozy chairs in front of a little fire place. I love this place. On a cold winter day, I come in here and wander around. I always feel at home. And I always find something I want.

First of all, I wanted to say that I would have given this shop 5 stars, before an interaction that my boyfriend had with one of the employees. We had been shopping at the store a couple weeks before my birthday in December and I picked out a book that I fell in love with. He returned to the store a week later to purchase it, and when he brought it up to the counter, the clerk took one look at him and actually said, "do you think you have enough money for this?" He replied, "well, yeah, I've got cash right here..." I absolutely cannot believe someone could be so rude to say that to a customer. It was a $50 book. If they can get customer service in check, they would be tops.

If you are feeling random, stop in Commonwealth Books! After walking past this place literally HUNDREDS of times to and from work, I stopped in one day. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just browsing with a friend. There are bunches of books everywhere. On the shelves, on there floor, basically anywhere they will fit. If you feel like getting lost in the yellowing pages, I highly suggest stopping by! If you are on a stroll around the common, definitely stop in. You never know what you'll find. Its easy to ignore the way its tucked in near Emerson but don't let it happen! I think if you are looking for something really really specific, it may be harder to find here, but give it a shot. Everything I have purchased has been reasonable enough.

I fell in love with this bookstore the first time I saw the big orange cat curled up by the fireplace. A great place to go and browse and so cozy in the winter. It has a really fun selection of rare books, old circulars and pamphlets, and antique maps. The only reason I give it for stars instead of five is that the prices can be a little high. It's completely worth exploring, though.