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 Lockdown Quiz: When Did Brighton Have Three Piers?
Firstly, I’m sorry not have posted anything for a while. The truth is I have been very busy, out and about meeting all sorts of lovely people and buying some great books too. The first lockdown led to a lot…
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Swimming Against The Tide: 19th Century Brighton Women.
This little pamphlet was issued in 1987 by Brighton Council’s Women Committee ‘as a contribution to Taking Liberties Week.’ Put together by Helen Rees, it has wonderful images of wonderful women who fought against the patriarchal establishment in Brighton and…
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The Theme Of The Crime; or, Antiques, Books and Collections.
The Antiques Trade Gazette recently issued a ‘book special’ number to coincide with the London Book Fairs. There were, of course, no real book fairs this year but the PBFA and some other organisations ran ‘Virtual Fairs.’ The magazine (the…
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The Roads of England, Or; Maps and Satnavs
From a King to a Queen Just a short post to let you know that I’m on the road! Which is to say, I’m out and about buying books again. I’ll be using the satnav rather than this 1838 map…
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Belle Tout, Birds and Beachy Head Lighthouse in 1902
Like a lot of book dealers I cannot buy stock at the moment due to the lockdown*. I never seem to have much left over at the end of the month as I sell it all at book fairs and…
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