The Golden Era of 1930s Dust Jackets: When Books Dressed to Dazzle
Barbara Chalk | April 21, 2026
Dust Jackets – From Utility to Art Form Dust jackets originated in the late 19th century as disposable wrappers, meant to protect bindings from wear. By the 1930s, however, publishers had begun to recognise their…
Read more
First Edition Winnie-the-Pooh (1926): Celebrating 100 Years of a Literary Classic
Barbara Chalk | January 15, 2026
In 2026, the world marks the centenary of Winnie the Pooh, one of the most cherished works of children’s literature ever published. For a hundred years, A. A. Milne’s gentle storytelling and Ernest H. Shepard’s…
Read more
The Definition of Modern First Edition Books
barbara | August 16, 2019
Modern First Editions. There is a certain aura around owning a first edition, especially if rare or old, or a famous work by an established author. It demands that special pride of place on the…
Read more
Artist and Author – an unusual book collection?
barbara | April 12, 2019
A bibliophile can often build a rare book collection around an author or topic. There are so many to choose from! However, how about a collection of authors who are also artists? There are surprisingly…
Read more
A rare publisher’s tale
barbara | February 14, 2019
A rare publisher’s tale: It is not often that the publishers are featured in the consideration of influences to literary movements. However, The Hogarth Press has a unique place in the history and development of…
Read more
The Queen of Detective Novels – Agatha Christie
barbara | February 19, 2018
Detective writers love a puzzle. And collecting Agatha Christie books can be as confusing as her detective novels. Occasional Christie novels fetch vast sums of money, yet remaining catalogued novels sell for a varied and…
Read more
Charles Dodgson and Lewis Carroll intertwined
barbara | January 28, 2018
Charles Dodgson, or rather Lewis Carroll, is primarily known as the author of the children’s classics, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Yet any collection of his works would be incomplete without recognising…
Read more
What’s in the signature?
barbara | September 11, 2017
What’s in the signature? A question often asked about rare and first edition books. Of course, the answer is not as straightforward as it might seem. To put it simply, the interest of a signature…
Read more
Collection of Winnie the Pooh Books
barbara | August 21, 2017
Winnie the Pooh, that well-known little bear, is again making publicity. The film, Goodbye Christopher Robin is released. What a great opportunity to revisit the fascinating story of the author behind the beloved classic children’s…
Read more
