Goodbye sweet book!

In my last blog I was talking about what a wrench it was having to part from The Wild One in order to sell it. I have been thinking about all the lovely rare books I would have liked to keep if only it wasn't for the lure of the filthy lucre! I do envy the collector who can keep all her treasure by her side - whereas with me they are just books that pass in the night. Once I have sold them on I am full of regrets and immediately start searching for a replacement. But if I do find one you can be sure that after re-sampling their delights for a day or two, the tempation to sell again will just be too much. Guess I am just a one night stand type of girl!


Some books that I have read and then abandoned...





I'd Rather Not Gallop by Caroline Akrill (Signed
by the author)

















The Wild One by Monica Edwards (First Edition)












Pony Club Camp by Patricia Leitch/Jane Eliot (First Ed)








The Ten Pound Pony by Veronica Westlake










More Ponies For Jean by Joanna Cannan (First Edition)











Janet Young Rider (republished as A Horse For the Holidays) by Patricia Leitch (First Edition)












The Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton (First Edition)

A strange ambiguity...

With the imminent publication in paperback form of Silver Snaffles by Fidra Books I have been pondering upon the ambiguous response this fashion for the re-printing of rare books inspires in me. As a reader I cannot help but be excited by the fact that I may be able to get my grubby mitts on books which had previously eluded me. As a bookseller however I can only watch sadly as the sales price of my rare copies suddenly dwindle...

I am not sure how much impact these imprints actually have on collectable editions. I think that firsts will perhaps remain un-changed, after all there have been numerous re-prints of the famous five books and the first editions still command respectable prices. I think the main difference will be seen in the rare paperback /reading copy market of which I seem to specialise. Six Ponies and Fly by Night have both dropped in price for example. With Silver Snaffles, I think it may be possible that the paperbacks and tattier hardbacks with no jackets will fall in price.

And yet whilst wondering what effect these changes may have upon me, I am at the same time waiting with eager anticipation for Fidra to re-publish more of Monica Edward's books so that I can once again read that wonderful book The Wild One. The rarest by far of all the author's books, I found an extremely tatty copy in a market for about 20p and sold it for well over £200. I read it before parting with it as I thought it would probably be the last time I'd ever get the chance! It was a sad parting as I absolutely loved the book but who can turn down that sort of profit? Now thanks to Fidra I - and many others who would never have been able to - might soon be re-reading this classic. The unselfish philanthropic part of me rejoices in the fact that such brilliant books will once again be available to the mass readership. But I can't help wondering how many 20p market and charity shop treasures will soon be left for us poor booksellers...