John King Used & Rare Books

John King Used & Rare Books Michigan's Largest Used & Rare Bookstore, with 1,000,000 (give or take one or two) books in stock.
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Named best bookstore several years in a row by Hour Detroit, MetroTimes & Channel 4, and voted best local bookstore on Nextdoor.

Ninety-two years ago today, on September 26th, 1934, the RMS Queen Mary was christened. Over 250,000 spectators gathered...
09/26/2026

Ninety-two years ago today, on September 26th, 1934, the RMS Queen Mary was christened. Over 250,000 spectators gathered at John Brown & Co.’s shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, braving a pouring rain to watch "Hull No. 534" slide into the River Clyde as Her Majesty Queen Mary bestowed her own name upon the ship, which would go on to become one of the most celebrated ocean liners to ever cross the Atlantic.

We currently have an original mid-1930s Cunard White Star promotional brochure for sale—the exact brochure passengers held in their hands before stepping aboard.

Click the link at the bottom to visit our blog to learn more about the brochure and the history of the RMS Queen Mary. You can purchase the brochure from our website, rarebooklink.com, or by clicking the link on our blog (the link below).

https://www.johnkingbooksdetroit.com/post/an-original-1930s-rms-queen-mary-brochure-luxury-on-every-deck

The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius (1923). Bound in leather by Zaehnsdorf. Only $125.00. Please ask at the front counter...
09/25/2026

The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius (1923). Bound in leather by Zaehnsdorf. Only $125.00. Please ask at the front counter if you’re interested. (9/25/26)

A couple of (relatively) timely books just priced for the 3rd Floor Automotive section.
09/25/2026

A couple of (relatively) timely books just priced for the 3rd Floor Automotive section.

Sophie is officially celebrating: John K. King Used & Rare Books has been named Metro Times Best Bookstore of the Year f...
09/20/2026

Sophie is officially celebrating: John K. King Used & Rare Books has been named Metro Times Best Bookstore of the Year for 2026!

The crown is heavy, but someone has to wear the party hat.

Thank you to everyone who votes every year to make us Metro Detroit's favorite book spot!

09/19/2026

To our patrons, friends, and weekend book hunters:

We always welcome seeing meaningful causes bring energy and community to Detroit, and we fully support the vital work of the Susan G. Komen MORE THAN PINK Walk in the fight against breast cancer.

However, this past Saturday, our block was unexpectedly caught inside a total perimeter shutdown for the event—leaving surrounding streets closed, employees blocked from our own lot, and many of you unable to reach the store. Saturdays are our busiest and most important day of the week, and unexpected closures like this deal a heavy blow to independent brick-and-mortar shops like ours.

While community walks and fundraisers are vital, events of this scale require open communication and coordinated traffic planning from city planners and organizers alike. When multi-block permits are approved without basic business notifications or access corridors, small businesses end up bearing the cost.

We are currently reaching out to event organizers and city officials to ensure access corridors and early notices are prioritized for future events. We are also aware that the American Cancer Society's Making Strides walk is scheduled in the area for October, but it is currently unclear whether our block will be affected. As soon as we have confirmed the exact route with organizers and the city, we will post an update here so you can plan your visit without issue.

Thank you to everyone who braved the detours, parked blocks away, or reached out to check in on us. We are back to regular access and look forward to seeing you at the store this week!

https://www.johnkingbooksdetroit.com/post/detroit-weekend-street-closures-a-word-on-last-weekend-and-going-forward

Address

901 W Lafayette Boulevard
Detroit, MI
48226

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 4pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+13139610622

Website

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