Owner of The Country Bookshop

In 1973, Ben Koenig answered a classified ad in a hobbies magazine which said, “Become a book scout. Send a dollar for details.” The booklet that came in the mail started him on a book-selling journey which has last for 42 years. Although he had been an administrator in a federal teacher-training program, and a sometime music teacher and performer, it has been his love and knowledge of old and rare books that has occupied most of his life. His Country Bookshop, in Plainfield, has had visitors from all over the world and he has been hired to appraise books and documents signed by such luminaries as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Because he believes in collecting as a hobby, and because he loves collectors, he has personally amassed collections of books and paper items to do with Bells, Vermont rural education, postcards and paper items about his town of Plainfield, Down's Syndrome, and several other topics.

 He'll talk about why he collects, and why you might want to collect as well.

Located in the village of Plainfield, Vermont, 15 minutes from the state capital of Montpelier (and Interstate 89) we're beside the stone wall, across from the waterfall. Turn off U.S. 2 at the blinking light.

30,000 books in all subject areas, conveniently located on one floor of a hundred year-old country home.

We also stock old postcards and other paper ephemera. Our specialties include folklore, folk music, and books on bells and carillons.We issue occasional catalogs in these areas, however most of our specialty stocks are now catalogued on the Internet. Use our search links below. Open year round. Every day - seven days a week, 10:00 to 5:00. Closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & New Year's Day. On some days it pays to call ahead.

Founding members of the:
Vermont Antiquarian Booksellers Association
Buying Selling, and Appraising Books since 1974.

We offer knowledgeable and reasonable pricing, a warm welcome to book lovers, a coffee pot, and great browsing.

Visit us on your next tour to beautiful Vermont.

lick to search our inventory: Title, Author, Keyword

Click to browse our subject catalogs

Send us an email: bookshop@thecountrybookshop.com