Cottonwood Books owner Danny Plaisance shares some of his coveted collection

Books burst from the seams of Cottonwood Books.

Since opening in September 1986, the Perkins Road store has grown its collection, now with an estimated 45,000 titles. The well-curated inventory has cemented its reputation not as another retailer but as a destination.

Some of its most special, rare books are placed prominently near the store’s entrance alongside photographs, religious icons, rocks and other mementos. Though these books are front and center, it could be easy to overlook them if you don’t know what you’re searching for.

But there behind the front counter, owner Danny Plaisance is ready to offer guidance. He has walked countless customers through the store’s shelves over the years.

“People come from all over, and it’s mainly because we’ve got a fairly good reputation for rare books and out-of-stock and out-of-print books,” he says. “It seems like a lot of people who move here become regulars, and when friends come to visit, they always [bring them] here.”

While rare books account for about 5% of the store’s titles and 10% of its revenue, Plaisance says, its collection sets it apart from chains and even online retailers. The rare finds are often significant because of their age, limited number of copies printed, autographs or inscriptions, or other notable characteristics.

Plaisance has found the bulk of his rare tomes through estate sales. Businesses that manage estate sales often call him to research and appraise books.

Over time, he has learned a lot about the value of books—their cash value, to be sure, but also the value they bring readers. “I’ve been doing this for 32 years, and I don’t find it to be work,” he says. “It’s fun.”

PLAISANCE’S PICKS
The bookstore owner shares several of its titles most meaningful to him

• ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ by John Kennedy Toole

First-edition copies of A Confederacy of Dunces are rare because only 3,000 were printed in 1980—a “very small” number, Plaisance says. New Orleans-born author John Kennedy Toole died before he could publish his novel. Toole’s mother set out to publish it, enlisting the help of Louisiana author Walker Percy. “He read it and appreciated how good it was, and he talked LSU Press into publishing it,” Plaisance says. Cottonwood Books also boasts second, third and fourth editions of this Pulitzer Prize winner.

• ‘My First Days in the White House’ and ‘Every Man a King’ by Huey P. Long

Former Governor Huey P. Long wrote two books, both of which Cottonwood Books has copies of. “Whenever someone comes in for one, they always mention the other,” Plaisance says. Published after Long’s death, My First Days in the White House is a rare find. Every Man a King is less so, as more copies are in print. But Plaisance snagged a copy that includes an inscription from former Gov. James Noe, who succeeded Long. “I could have sold it,” he says, “but it’s just so special.”

• ‘The Illustrated Book of the Dog’ by Vero Shaw

Found at an estate sale, Plaisance’s copy includes an inscription that dates it to 1887. First editions date to 1881. One of 550 printed, this thick, leather-bound book includes hand-colored illustrations of different dog breeds. “It’s scarce and collectible,” he says. “It’s in relatively good shape, too.”

CELEBRATE THE BOOK

The Louisiana Book Festival marks 15 years this month, bringing hundreds of authors and speakers to downtown Baton Rouge for a full day devoted to books and reading. Throughout the day, attendees can check out book signings, lectures, cooking demonstrations, performances and more.

Some authors who are scheduled to make appearances at the festival:

• Actress and filmmaker Justine Bateman—yes, from the series Family Ties—presents her quasi-memoir Fame: The Hijacking of Reality.

• Jack E. Davis shares his book, The Gulf: The Making of An American Sea, for which he won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for History.

• Quvenzhane Wallis, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild, is also the author of several children’s books, including the Shai and Emmie series.

• Donna Brazile, the New Orleans-born political strategist, presents Hacks, her inside story of the 2016 presidential campaign.

The Louisiana Book Festival is set for Nov. 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., in and around the Capitol Park downtown. louisianabookfestival.org

Online

Find out more about the local bookstore at cottonwoodbooksbatonrouge.com.

This article was originally published in the November 2018 issue of 225 Magazine.