I started a blog of this name in 2006, which turned into a monthly column in Book and Magazine Collector. As the name suggests it was written to encourage book-lovers to take a different approach to building up a collection. There are millions of old books out there, and many are far more interesting than the same old titles and themes trotted out by established authorities like… well, Book and Magazine Collector, for one.
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ANLAOB Episode 3 : The Lewes Book Fair and The Highdown Bindery
13th November 2018In this episode we visit the Lewes Book Fair, one of the best and most popular regional fairs in the country. Busy book fairs like this one are the heart of the trade and superb places for beginners and seasoned…
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ANLAOB Episode 2 : Buying Books as Gifts.
25th October 2018In Episode 2 we’re looking at buying books as gifts, and the best guideline here is ‘condition over edition’. I’ll be returning to the wisdom* of obsessing about ‘first editions’ in the new year but if you’re just starting collecting…
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ANLAOB Episode 1: The Pulp and Paperback Book Fair
10th October 2018I have started making short videos about book collecting. This is the first, about the Pulp and Paperback Book Fair. I could quote all sorts of introductions from old books at this point apologising for all the faults in ‘t…
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How To Spot A Beatnik; or, Digging The Counter Culture
21st September 2018I love counter culture material and this apparently home made book is a jewel. How to Spot A Beatnik is set in ‘broadminded’ St. Ives and is a very amusing look at the hypocrisy of mainstream culture and its attitude…
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Brighton Students; or Students of Brighton.
18th September 2018It’s freshers week for Brighton students and thousands of super-cool youngsters are sloping into town. Welcome to the party! Many of you will have suffered the sneers and abuse of the ‘straights’ in whatever provincial backwater you hail from but…