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    Artifact Books

    4.7 (29 reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 5:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Michelle M.

    Small in size, but the bookshelves are stacked. You can find some gems here, including special editions and signed copies.

    Shane S.

    A great little bookstore. Here it is quality over quantity. Smart selection of books including William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Ernest Hemmingway, memoir of Tony Hawk, biography of Ravi Shankar, and many more. Some signed editions. Friendly owner.

    Lotta S.

    Unique used classic books! Some Signed by author. Huge selection and very organized. Sale items generously discounted. Park at the train station if parking lot is full. Support these small rare little shops and get your next gift here!

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    Rebecca F.

    This is the cutest bookstore ever with an amazing owner. There was so many cool editions and treasures to find along these shelves. If your vibe is small, mysterious and homey then this is for you

    1978 printing of Brave New World
    Chet S.

    What an amazing shop! I have regular weekly appointments near this bookstore, and it finally piqued my curiosity enough that I had to come in with my girlfriend and see what was inside. The most interesting thing about the place is that it isn't just for the really difficult to find stuff. We spoke with Greg, the owner, for at least an hour, and in that time we saw a very old 1920 Don Quixote English translation (four volumes), a Dickens collection, a Dumas leather bound series, and so much more! He even has a combo first printing hardcover and paperback Catcher in the Rye. But that's not all. Besides the expensive and rare, he has an eclectic array of all genres. Are you looking for a specific cover or European release? He might have it! Signed books from a local or regional author? Of course! In my photo, you'll see the 1978 cover art version of a Brave New World paperback that I picked up while I was there.

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    6 months ago

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    18 days ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

    A bunch of faux collectible books wrapped in plastic. Ignore the looks of disdain from the staff.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great selection for a small place- super knowledgeable and kind staff. Really cool to see all the signed copies and special editions!

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Photo of Greg M.

    Greg M.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I travel to SD once a year to visit family and everytime I'm in town this is one of my go to stops for great books.

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    Greg M.

    Thanks so much for coming in! See you again next year.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Nicely curated collection of vintage pulp sci-fi and fantasy. Some nice classic literature, too.

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    4 years ago

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    Greg M.

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great little used book store. Owner is very nice. Great variety and selection of books.

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    Greg M.

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    4 years ago

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    Greg M.

    Thanks, Ryan. So glad you enjoyed the store.

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    Ask the Community - Artifact Books

    Review Highlights - Artifact Books

    This is a tiny one room used bookstore right smack in the middle of downtown Encinitas.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Farenheit 451 Books

    Farenheit 451 Books

    4.4
    (96 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $

    What a wonderful bookshop and the store owner was a pleasure to converse with. You can hear his…read morepassion for books in his voice. Anyway, we had planned a weekend trip to Carlsbad and searched for used bookstores in the area and Farenheit came up. So glad we stopped in and were able to walk out with a few books. Many vintage finds for all you collectors. Look closely and carefully as there are so many nooks and crannies in the shop where hidden gems can be found. You can find art books to cookbooks to history books. Please note that the shop's lease for this location is up soon. If you and anyone know of a space in Carlsbad Village, please contact the store owner Philip. He and this community deserve to have a bookstore. We are never too old or too young to learn. Grab a book and enjoy a good read! Lookout for the bargain books! And I loved the music played during our shopping experience, French jazz, which set the mood for our lunch in a local French cafe. Support this small business and stimulate the local economy and our brains!

    I love all used bookstores. I may not love all of them equally but I still love them. Anytime I…read morecan buy books at significantly lower prices, count me in. This is a small shop but they've probably got something that will catch your interest. I bought a fat history book (no, not a book about the history of fatties, come on, now) for 1/3rd the normal price. And it is in perfect condition. I also appreciated the notes throughout the store encouraging the reading of banned books. Seems an appropriate message given the name of the bookshop. Plenty of free street parking in the area.

    Photos
    Farenheit 451 Books
    Really old books are preserved in plastic bags here.
    Really old books are preserved in plastic bags here.
    Crystal ball hanging in store.

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    Crystal ball hanging in store.
    Helen's Book Mark

    Helen's Book Mark

    4.3
    (60 reviews)
    13.5 mi
    $

    Two stars for cleanliness and friendly staff…read more Three stars off for the most important aspect of a used bookstore... price. $5 per paperback? More for hardbacks? For a book whose spine is parting? Missing pages? C'mon. Don't even bother looking at most of what they call "Vintage" books. They ask a king's ransom for them. I found paperback after paperback that was priced at over $20 each... for a book barely 50 years old and a cover price of $1.50. Outlandish. I actually performed a reality check and went to Ebay to check on 7 or 8 of those titles. In each case the books sold for much less on Ebay than Helen is asking. They most definitely need to adjust their pricing schema. It's not like they're paying rent in downtown La Jolla for goodness sake. I was originally, upon walking in, going to say their large, diverse selection is a strength. Now I understand it's simply a function of them not selling their books at a good turnover rate at all... consequently, their stock piles up. Shame.

    This place has a TON of books and I'm so happy I discovered it! I was able to find 3 books in my…read moreTBR list, which I was surprised with because they're all contemporary authors who are pretty hot right now. I could honestly stay in this place for at least a couple hours; there books wall to wall and they even have a large romance section in the back. I can't comment on the stock as I don't really read romance, unless it's for sh*ts and giggles. They have also got plenty of comfy chairs for you to sit around in, too. Pricing is average as many are half off the cover price. Some books are deeply discounted and are in little baskets scattered in the store. I'll definitely come here again! The only drawback is that they're open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only.

    Photos
    Helen's Book Mark
    Helen's Book Mark
    Helen's Book Mark

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    Artifact Books - bookstores - Updated August 2026

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