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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Oh dear, he’s at it again…
5th September 2017Well I can’t resist them. And neither can you. You know you can’t. Go on look at them look at them… Ahem. Where was I? Oh yes. So, if wayward wives, dangerous dames and ruthless rogues are your bag, I’ve…
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All Roads Lead To York
4th September 2017But the sea, it appears, only gets as near as Robin Hood Bay. Still, this is a truly wonderful map. It is bright, clean and crisp and shows the north coast of England, from Robin Hood’s Bay up to ‘Coket…
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Holiday Season; or, A Devonshire Map
20th August 2017Off to Devonshire next week, buying some books. I won’t be using this map though – it’s from the 1760s and I’ve just sold it. The Satnav (Prudence) will do the honours as usual and I’ll let you know how…
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Cocktails and Books; or, And Other Stories.
6th March 2017Oh dear. Here we are again, always crashing in the same bar…but then books and cocktails have a lot in common. Attractive, stylish, infinitely varied – and no matter how many you have you always want more. They’re both full…
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A Mystery; or, Stories of Strange Women
25th February 2017The art nouveau illustration on this book is simply superb. The woman’s hair merges with the foliage and a snake to become a swirling pattern of curves that frame the subject and the title perfectly. I’ve looked very carefully inside…