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. I hated all those ‘Hundred Most Expensive Books You’ll Never Own’ articles and encouraged collectors to look elsewhere for inspiration. I still do…
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Brighton Pride – ephemera with a long lasting impact…
Brighton Pride is this weekend. They have been building the multi-stage site in Preston Park all week. This beer mat is from 1995 when the event was somewhat smaller – just a few pubs and clubs and a carnival procession….
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Hey Ho, Come To The Fair – Ditchling Horticultural Show, 100 years ago.
I have just returned from the Ephemera Society’s Summer Fair in Bloomsbury with a box of beautiful finds. This is my favourite. It’s a gorgeous poster for the 98th Annual Show of The Ditchling Horticultural Society. The Society still exists…
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Brighton A to Z – Art, Beatniks and Jazz
This poster is from the late 1950s and is beyond cool. It’s eye-catching, perfectly balanced and elegant. The ‘Jazz Contest’ event was organised by Brighton Art Students, who must have seemed like a shocking bunch of beatniks at the time….
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Empty Shelves -And The First Signs Of Spring!
These shelves were full of books at the start of the fair! I have just come back from the regular monthly ETC Bloomsbury book fair and I’m pleased to report that it was very busy. Things have been very slow…
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Maidstone Gin, 14 shillings & 6d a gallon!
Here’s a wonderful thing. It’s a beautiful two-colour advertising flyer for Maidstone Gin, dating from the late 19th Century. I have recently bought a big scrap-book of ephemera relating to Mr Grant’s Distillery and I was delighted to discover that…
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