I grumble about doing book fairs. The deciding, sorting, boxing up and worst of all, the lifting are faced with apprehension. My long-suffering friends and family ask (with gritted teeth) why I still do them.
In truth, I enjoy choosing the books and setting up my stall only when I have enough time and strength but I do so love spending a day talking books with customers and other booksellers, that it's worthwhile in the end.
Saturday's Book Fair is held regularly in Winchester
and is one of the few small remaining places where true booksellers can sell their stock. We are a dying breed but luckily seem to be tenacious and long lived.
We arrive early and apart from a few friendly greetings, all concentrate on unloading our books and setting up. As soon as this is achieved, everyone wanders off to have a closer look at each others stock. Most booksellers have their particular specialities and so there is usually a lot of buying and selling between us even before the doors open! This is the perfect time and place to find that elusive addition to my own library...
There is a great satisfaction in standing back and looking at all my books laid out for all to see and enjoy-
Some leatherbound sets-
A selection of sheet music-
Some unusual bits and pieces to add a little variety-
And something to make me laugh-
I love looking at other bookseller's specialities-
At 10.00am the fair opened and we all sat ready, peering out from behind out towers of books-
It was a lively, busy day with many book lovers coming along to browse and to buy-
The next Book Fair is on Saturday March 3rd... and I promise not to grumble about it this time!
In truth, I enjoy choosing the books and setting up my stall only when I have enough time and strength but I do so love spending a day talking books with customers and other booksellers, that it's worthwhile in the end.
Saturday's Book Fair is held regularly in Winchester
 |
| http://www.winchesterbookfair.com// |
and is one of the few small remaining places where true booksellers can sell their stock. We are a dying breed but luckily seem to be tenacious and long lived.
We arrive early and apart from a few friendly greetings, all concentrate on unloading our books and setting up. As soon as this is achieved, everyone wanders off to have a closer look at each others stock. Most booksellers have their particular specialities and so there is usually a lot of buying and selling between us even before the doors open! This is the perfect time and place to find that elusive addition to my own library...
There is a great satisfaction in standing back and looking at all my books laid out for all to see and enjoy-
I brought a good selection of children's books-
Some leatherbound sets-
A selection of sheet music-
Some unusual bits and pieces to add a little variety-
And something to make me laugh-
I love looking at other bookseller's specialities-
But a bookshelf full of mixed stock is still to me the most uplifting sight. What treasures might I find there?
At 10.00am the fair opened and we all sat ready, peering out from behind out towers of books-
It was a lively, busy day with many book lovers coming along to browse and to buy-
Back to my books and I will just show you a few of my particular favourites-
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| A beautiful plate from The Cyclopaedia of Costume |
 |
| Three books on British birds |
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| and a lovely illustrated edition of Tennyson's poems |
In all it was a good day, with interesting people, kindred spirits and I sold quite a lot of books!
The next Book Fair is on Saturday March 3rd... and I promise not to grumble about it this time!
We don't have these; wish we did. Sounds like a perfect way to spend a winter Saturday. Jim
ReplyDeletehi Jim, They are a treat,you are right, it's a perfect way to spend a cold winter's day! Jane x
ReplyDeleteHi Jane! I see that the way we comment has changed! Do we now have to subscribe to comments, so we can comment using the appropriate box, rather than use the "reply" thing, like I'm having to do? I do not seem to have a comment box on some blogs, like I used to and dare not "subscribe to comments" as I know that if I do, something will stop working, on my blog!
DeleteMy husband would spend ages at a book fair. He has a library, at home, which hosts as many books as a public library and it's so old and filled with antiques, when you walk in there feels like walking into a time machine! But it's so beautiful!
Have a good day!
ANNA
xx
Hi Anna,
DeleteIt is a bit confusing isn't it? I think it's a good thing tho' as it lets you reply staight after the coment rather than leaving a gap. When leaving coments as normal I think you just do the 'comment' box, not 'reply'! I'm glad somebody else found it strange too!
I love the thought of your husband's library, I've always wanted to have a whole room set aside for my books and for quiet reading. Jane xx
Jane,
DeleteI just spotted the "Add Comment" box at the bottom of your post, as ever. In some blogs it seems to have been replaced by "Subscribe to comments" Well, I don't want to do anything new, as I know a feature will disppear from my blog!
Thank you for your help, Jane!
Aren't days getting longer? 16.45 and still light! There is hope!
ANNA
xx
Hi Anna,
DeleteI'm completely clueless when it come to this sort of thing. I wanted to put one large picture or two smaller pictures on the top of my blog but could only get half the space filled up! I must have another fiddle when I have some time.
I love seeing the days get longer and longer. I've a day off tomorrow and have promised myself a walk in the woods collecting firewood... and looking for snowdrops!
Jane xx
Hello Jane:
ReplyDeleteWe love book fairs and this one looks absolutely wonderful. As you say, it is satisfying when other booksellers are as serious as you are as that lifts the whole tone of the fair. Your highlighted selection is so interesting and your own stall looks to have been so carefully arranged. We are delighted to read that sales were good!
Hello Jane and Lance, I'm glad you enjoyed looking at my books, I wish we were close enough so you could come round and see them properly! Jane x
ReplyDeleteI wish I were close and could attend. I can't think of a better way to spend the day. It looks like the best place to discover something out of the ordinary. I am drawn to the illustrated Tennyson book. The illustration shown is beautiful. I know you must be extremely organized to be able to set up for these fairs.
ReplyDeleteLove your new background. Bonnie
Hi Bonnie, I love the Tennyson too-The illustrator is Florence Harrison- her paintings are so beautiful! Jane x
DeleteI would be all over the sheet music! I love finding those treasures.
ReplyDeleteHello LR, I've only recently started collecting the sheet music, I love the illustrated covers especially. Jane x
DeleteOoh Jane! We haven't done a book fair in about 4 years, except for a couple of little Christmas fairs with cards etc, and I do miss doing them - except for all the lifting!
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful...I wish I could have seen it in the flesh.
Carol x
Hi Carol,
DeleteIt's a special sort of feeling at book fairs, isn't it? Quite calm and companionable. I did have a happy day. Jane x
If I was there I would love to come to your book fair. Your books look enchanting, especially the children's books and of course the beautiful leather bound ones. I can well imagine the lifting could become overwhelming. Thanks so much for sharing. Diane
ReplyDeleteHello Diane, I was pleased with my choices on Saturday, it's always hard to decide what to leave behind. Sometimes I have a theme, other times I just bring a wide selection! Jane x
DeletePersonally for me, there is nothing quite the same as holding a book and reading it. I had loads for Christmas so have lots of bed time reading to do which I am enjoying. My hubby adores ancient books so he would be in his element at one of your book fairs. I do agree with you about the fairs being incredibly hard work though, I find lifting and carrying for the vintage fairs we do a real strain on my old back and a box full of books I can imagine weighs a tonne! But keep up the good work as I can't imagine a world without booksellers.
ReplyDeleteJo xx
Hi Jo,
DeleteIt's the lifting that gets you down isn't it? I used to have all my books on the top floor of our three storey terrace and worked out that one day had carried 14 large wine boxes of books down two flights of stairs, out through the passageway, loaded the car, did the fair and then did the whole thing in reverse at the end of the day... I was shattered! I still can't resist books tho' they do give me such pleasure. Jane x
Oh, I love book fairs. I could spend hours browsing though all the stalls. That book on British birds is lovely. What fun. Old books can be so beautiful, I have been collecting old books for a long time.
ReplyDeleteHi Sunday Taylor, There's always something good to find at a book fair- once you start collecting, there's always a temptation to add just one more volume! Jane x
DeleteI keep trying to reach through the screen and grab some of these.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous, and tempting.
Hello Pamela, Thank you for visiting! As you can tell from my company's name: " Kiss the Book" I do love my books... Jane x
Deletei wish there were more book fairs where i live :( and Wow! to your comment about Call the Midwife! How exciting for her!! xx
ReplyDeleteHi Claire, Thanks for visiting, as you can imagine I've a copy of her book! Jane x
DeleteHello Jane
ReplyDeleteI would so love to attend such a fair. At such times, I crave for a bank of free time to read to my heart's content. One can always dream this will one day happen.
Helen xx
Hello Helen, I agree about reading. I'll never forget the wonderful feeling when I went to uni (to read English)and I realised I was expected and allowed to spend all and everyday reading! Jane xx
DeleteHow fun! I didn't know Winchester had a book fair - I bet it had that great 'old book' smell about it :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so lucky to have such a good book fair near at hand and yes, that wonderful elusive scent of old books was there...! Jane x
DeleteJane you have a wonderful job and a great blog! I wish I could visit such a fair one day, it seems to be a very interesting event
ReplyDeleteHello Irina, Thank you for visiting. Book fairs are wonderful places and full of people and books not normally found! Jane x
Deleteoh! so amazing books!
ReplyDeleteHi Lena, I do so love my books, whenever I think that perhaps I shouldn't be a bookseller, I find something wonderful and know that I can never be anything else! Jane x
DeleteHi Jane, so glad you had a successful day. There is a lot of work involved in setting up your stall, not to mention the carrying in and out. I have stood antique fairs, craft fairs, trade fairs and a food market in my time, so I can understand your sense of dread. I always loved the buzz of setting up and the anticipation of what sort of a day it would be, but hated when it was disappointing and you had to pack it all away again!
ReplyDeleteYour books look lovely, and so colourful. Have you thought about selling them on Etsy?
Many thanks for your lovely comments. I have always been, since I was a child the sort of person who has to do something creative, or else I get down. I recommend that you put away the paperwork for 1 day, and have some fun making something pretty, it is a tonic for the soul! Much love to you, Linda x
Hi Linda, How good to hear from you. You do have to have done fairs to truly understand the highs and lows, don't you?
DeleteI have been thinking of selling my books and things on Etsy, I have a few quieter weeks ahead, so I shall do just that... and make something creative. I've just started covering anotebook with collage type stuff... it's to be my new travel diary, as I always mean to make notes about the places I visit. So, you have inspired me into action! love Jane xx