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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Eric Gill; or, The Writing on the Wall.
11th March 2018I was offered a very rare and valuable Eric Gill book recently and did not buy it. I could have made a good profit; I could also have been left with something I could barely give away. As I write…
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Quarrelling, Swearing and Drunkenness; or, Brighton Beach
1st March 2018Can you believe it? ‘… there was a time when a part of the beach at Brighton exhibited a scene of quarrelling, swearing and drunkenness, such as was seldom witnessed.’ So claims the introduction to this 1863 book, ‘Lectures on…
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A Spooky Bibliomystery: Post Mortem by Guy Cullingford
24th February 2018‘Post Mortem’ by Guy Cullingford is an excellent bibliomystery. Un-likeable author Gilbert Worth is shot dead at point blank range and his death looks very much like suicide. Only his troubled spirit knows he was murdered – but whodunnit? The…
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Hammer Horror Vampire Lesbian Sex Film Keyword Scandal Part 1
23rd February 2018The Hammer House of Horror produced dozens of X-certificate horror romps in the sixties and seventies and their vampire movies were their most popular line. This 1971 production was a follow-up to ‘The Vampire Lovers’ and features many of the…
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Concerning Ye Ancient Order of Froth Blowers.
14th February 2018Do You Gollop Your Beer With Zest? If so, ‘You should become a Member of Ye Ancient Order of Froth Blowers!’ claims this small booklet I discovered recently. As it concerns two of my favourite places, Sussex and drunk, I’m…