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 |
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| 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!
