Books Inc.'s origin dates back to the Gold Rush Days of 1851 when Anton Roman struck it rich in Shasta City, California and set himself up in business selling books. That small bookstore was moved, bought, sold, burned and rebuilt. It finally became Books, Inc. in 1948. Its history is filled with pioneer booksellers named Bret Harte, George Billings, Alex Robertson, Chilton Beach, Leon Gelber, Ted Lillianthal, Barbara Thompson & Lew Lengfeld. They survived earthquakes, the depression, world wars, and chain stores. - booksinc.net