There is an apocryphal story told about Lord Byron, that he had a single copy of the Bible printed to prank his publisher, John Murray. He is said to have changed John 18:40, "For Barabbas was a thief", to read "For Barabbas was a publisher". This is referred to as the publisher's bible.
Is that (or something similar to it) where the tradition about Barabbas being a bookseller comes from, I wonder?
"Fans of the classic TV series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy will no doubt remember in Episode 1 that George Smiley uses the variation “Barabbas was a bookseller” when he is making a purchase in an antiquarian bookshop before he notices that he is being followed by Peter Guillam…" —telescoper.blog
I actually had that scene in mind. (It was the first I'd heard of that belief.)