Book Peddlers and Circulating Library in the 18~19th Century

The book peddlers contacted with individuals who needed book, received order then brought the books and sold them through bargaining. They sold books individually apart from the official book sellers by which the government approved. They maintained direct and indirect relationship with their customers even after bookstore and circulating library appeared and retained their position in other parts of the society for minority readers and the public. The book peddlers were called ‘Chaekque(冊儈)’ or ‘Seochaekque(書冊儈)’ in Korea, they were called ‘Seokque(書儈)’ in China. Further, the book peddlers in Japan were called ‘Kyoushouhonya(行商本屋)’ while ‘Ofenia(ОФЕНЯ)’, ‘Colporteur’, ‘Chap-man’ and ‘Książkonoszy’ were the names for the type of bookseller in Russia, France, UK and Poland respectively.