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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The Wasp Factory: Lost Movie Script Discovered at Book Fair
First, the good news: it’s true. This really is it. It turned up in July 2018 at The ETC Bloomsbury Book Fair at The Royal National Hotel, in London. (As I may have mentioned a few times before, you never…
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ANLAOB Episode 3 : The Lewes Book Fair and The Highdown Bindery
In 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.
In 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
I 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
I 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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