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| Kevin Johnston from Royal Books |
The first time I met Kevin was at the Colorado Rare Book School. He was a lecturer there. He got up and spoke about his past life and what excites him about book selling. He loves books about movies, which isn't surprising really because he wrote two wonderful bibliographies called “The Dark Page 1 and 2. Illustrated volumes of first editions books that that inspired films in dustwrappers.
On Kevin's stand a poster of a Hitchock film. “The 39 Steps” that was originally a book by John Buchan. The film staring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll, from 1935.
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| Michael Steinbach – Rare Books |
I look over his stand. He has some very graphical beautiful books. I grin back at him and say "Those books are a little bit naughty". Hidden, although not that well, on the bottom shelf sit a sort of pillow book.
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| McConnell Fine Books in Deal, Kent. UK |
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ROUSSEAU, Jean-Jacques The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Preface by Jules Claretie. Illustrated by Maurice Leloir. (In English). |
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ROUSSEAU |
The first time I met Nick was in our shop in Sydney. He was visiting a relative, but still manage some time to go to some bookshops while he was in town. He has been specialising fine bindings for over 30 years. And I can see why he does it.
Why not surround yourself with full leather gilt bindings?
When I see his books, I think of learned gentleman sitting in their study or library in front of a fire reading and sipping tea.
Why not surround yourself with full leather gilt bindings?
When I see his books, I think of learned gentleman sitting in their study or library in front of a fire reading and sipping tea.
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Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association - Another fair
This fair was inviting. Not quite as impressive as Olympia fair, the stalls are just tables of books. It feels like an old school hall or market. The books are not as grand, but the atmosphere was slightly more exciting. Why? I think it is because people hope to find a bargain.
I definitely had fun rummaging. For me it was like a good house call. You know the collection in front of you has something good in it, but you just haven't found it yet.
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Fang Ling Jong
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| Fang-Ling Jong and myself |
Fang-Ling and I worked together during the first two International Antiquarian Bookfairs in Hong Kong. She was a very hard working publicist. I found out that she has moved on to bigger and better things. She was in London to promote her new book: - Tales of Bookshops. Tawain, Vista, 2010.
".... uniquely exploring the Western book world through an Asian's eyes; though its text is in Chinese, its color photography is unmatched in any language, with an emphasis on antiquarian bookshops, particularly in the Bay Area." (www.abaa.org)
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The wrap
I sit on the plane and reflect. Have I had a successful trip? Well, the answer is, yes. I spoke to many people about the fair. Most people seemed enthusiastic about it and they all seemed to be talking to one another about it. I walked around the room and people I had never met already knew who I was and what I was here for.
And then I thought about the other booksellers. Did they have a successful fair? Well, I know that a lot is riding on a book fair. Booksellers not only need to be at the fair but they have to bring their books to sell. They are heavy and awkward to carry. They often travel great distances. But this is only half the battle. Once books and booksellers arrive they battle different time zones, unfamiliar and uncomfortable surrounding, different languages, lack of sleep and small installation crisis's. They need to stand for long periods of time and be polite to colleagues and customers. If they can do all this and then only if they get a lucky will they may have a successful fair.
So, why and how do they do it?
Booksellers are a rare breed. A friend once said that it was a "gentleman's trade". But it is much, much more than this. A book selling is a as much about the books as about the friendships made along the way.
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