An Adventure in Book Hunting #3: Summer of Love…? #BookSelling #BuyVintage

As some of you may know I sell antique and vintage books on Etsy. It’s a hobby that allows me to do one of my favourite things – buy old books – without feeling too guilty. It’s not really about making money (although that’s nice too), it’s about the joy of finding beautiful old / rare books, researching their history and giving them a new home. In this new feature I will be sharing some of my finds with you!

This is a little a bit different to my regular book-hunting post because the books I’m talking about are a secret. No, I haven’t gone completely mad, honest, I have just implemented an idea I’ve been wanting to do for ages in my Etsy bookshop. Read on, and all will become clear.

Blind Date with a Vintage Book

I’ve seen book lucky-dips at various book fairs & shops and have always loved the idea of it. So I finally took the bull by the horns and chose four of the vintage books in my stock and created a dating profile for each one which has clues to the books- but essentially, the idea is that people buy a secret book.

All books are vintage, so would have been published between 20-99 years ago. They are all in good, readable condition and I list the exact condition and flaws of each book, but nothing about the book’s content.

I think it’s a really fun idea, and hope people are willing to take a chance on an unknown book. If you (or someone you are buying a gift for) collect old books, then you can’t go wrong. All of these books will look good on your vintage bookshelf!

I’ll also be throwing in one of my handmade bookmarks and other bookish goodies (pens, badges, notebooks, postcards,ETC) so if the book is sadly not to your liking, all is not lost! I have listed these first four books at an introductory offer of £5 which is a bargain, if i do say so myself.

LLF (2)

blinddate1

Who would you choose as your hot date this summer?

Visit my Etsy Store to view in full

An Adventure in Book Hunting #2: Albatross Books

Albatross paperbacks – various

Found: Ebay

These caught my eye because of the striking covers and their resemblance to the classic Penguin books, but I’d never heard of Albatross. When I delved into the history of the publishers it all became clear…

Christmas Holiday by Somerset Maugham. 1947
These Foolish Things by Michael Sadleir. 1937
Strange Glory by L.H Myers. 1938

History

Albatross Books was a German publishing house based in Hamburg that produced the first ever modern mass market paperback books. Founded in 1932 by John Holroyd-Reece, Max Christian Wegner and Kurt Enoch, the name was chosen because “Albatross” is the same word in many European languages.

Based on the example of Tauchnitz, a Leipzig publishing firm that had been producing inexpensive and paper-bound English-language reprints for the continental market, Albatross set out to streamline and modernise the paperback format.

The books in the series, also known as the Albatross Continental Library, were produced in a new standardised size (181 x 111 mm), which became known as the Golden Ratio – still used today. They used new sans-serif fonts developed by Stanley Morison among others, and were color-coded by genre, with green for travel, orange for fiction, and so on. The series was so successful that Albatross soon purchased Tauchnitz, giving itself an instant 100-year heritage.

The outbreak of World War II brought the Albatross experiment to a halt, but by then Allen Lane, founder of Penguin Books had adopted many of Albatross’ ideas, including the standard size, the idea of covers using typography and logo but no illustrations, and the use of colour coding by type of content. Lane later hired Kurt Enoch, co-founder of Albatross Books, to manage Penguin’s American branch. (Wiki)

More info here: Publishing History

Inscriptions/Features

Two of the books are signed and dated. One is unreadable but one clearly reads 1938. In These Foolish Things there is an original ‘postcard’ from Albatross books reading:

‘Dear reader,

If I have not yet chosen that special book you want me to publish, would you not care to select it yourself? A free copy is sent of every book published at a reader’s suggestion to whoever proposed it first. On receipt of your card you will be informed if the book in question has been suggested already and if not it will be read at once.

Hoping yours will be the first suggestion, I remain,

Yours sincerely,

The Albatross’

Purchase

I’ve found a few copies of Christmas Holiday in slightly better condition than mine over on AbeBooks for around $35, but haven’t had much luck with the others, so hopefully that means they’re pretty rare. I’m selling these three as a set for just £20 as they’re not in the best condition but still readable! I also have a sale on the moment with 1/3 off selected items.

Do these books mean anything to you? I’d love to hear more about the history of Albatross.

Lost & Found: Adventures in Book Hunting #1

The Jewel of Kasr-Ed-Shendi (1973) by Penelope Fletcher

Found: Tiffin School Car Boot Sale, Kingston-Upon-Thames

Synopsis

Before setting out at the beginning of her first term at boarding school in Scotland, Pat is entrusted by her father with the care of a valuable diamond. Although she knew she would have to face danger, the events of that term were to become more horrifying than she thought possible. It proved to be a time she would never forget, when her character, strengthened by her Girl Guide training, was to be tested to the limit.

Although she had little in common with her room-mate Muriel when they first met, their adventures together revealed sterling qualities of unsuspected depth, and welded a bond of friendship between them.

History

Girl Guiding has a long and rich history of empowering girls and young women, and this book is a lovely product of that history. Written by Penelope Fletcher and published in 1973, this first edition is a sought-after book for Girl Guide aficionados.

Penelope Fletcher was born in Birkenhead in 1907 and became extremely interested in the Girl Guides during her school days. She joined her School Company and the Blackbird Patrol and later became the Lieutenant in the Girl Guides Y.W.C.A Birkenhead. After her marriage, Fletcher became Captain of the 1st Hollesley Girl Guides until they disbanded in 1938.

The Jewel of Kasr-Ed-Shendi is a Girl Guide School Story full of outdoor adventure and friendship aimed at celebrating the female of the species in line with the true spirit of the Girl Guides.

Inscription

One of the main things I love about old books is finding inscriptions. This one has a lovely inscription which just adds to its rich history as far as I’m concerned. It reads ‘To dear Josie, Lambert & family, with love & best wishes for health, wealth & happiness now & always from auntie Pene. Dec 1973.’

I’ve tried to research this to no avail, but it’s quite a coincidence it’s signed auntie Pene – perhaps the author herself!?

Purchase

I can only find 3 copies of this rare, collectable book online. Sunrise Books are selling one on AbeBooks and Amazon Marketplace for £164.99. There is another copy on Amazon marketplace for £95, and one on Ebay in France for 194.99 Euros.

I’m selling my copy for £75, which you can view in full here.

Does this book mean anything to you? I’d love to hear more about the history of this book and Penelope Fletcher.

End of Summer SALE now on in my Etsy Vintage Book Store! 30 % Off Everything!

Hi guys, I’ve decided to celebrate the Bank Holiday by having a sale in my Etsy Store.

I’ve been busy adding new stock (and continue to do so over the weekend) and working on a range of handmade gifts to sell at a later date too. I’m currently in ‘perfecting’ mode as I don’t want to sell anything that isn’t the highest quality!

You can get 30% Off anything in store until the end of Tuesday 1st September. Simply use the code L1P5YY30 at checkout.

Here’s what’s been going on since my last post, two weeks ago…

Added to the shelves

Click on the book titles to view in store.

Ghosts and Two Other Plays (1949) – Henrik Ibsen

Scottish Scenes Drinking Set (1950/60s)

OK so it’s not a book, but look how awesome these little whisky/shot glasses are. So kitsch!

Sold

What Katy Did at School ~ Susan Coolidge (1920s)

I’m so glad this has gone to a good home!

About the Shop

I opened the shop because I love nothing more than scouring second-hand bookshops, markets and car-boot sales for vintage books. I love the way they look, the way they smell and the way you can imagine the history of them.

I can’t however keep buying books indefinitely. I have limited space, and limited funds, and therefore I opened this shop in order to generate a bit of a return in order to carry on doing what I love – buying books! And the way I look at it, if they don’t sell I get to keep them – DOUBLE WIN!

30% Off anything in store until the end of Tuesday 1st September. Simply use the code L1P5YY30 at checkout.

Lipsyy Lost & Found Vintage Book Shop Update

It’s been a really lonnnnnnnng time since I last did a shop update! And to be honest, that’s because not a lot has been going on. I haven’t sold any books in the last few months, but now I’ve added more stock I hope it picks up.

Click on the book titles to view in store.

Added to the shelves (on sale now!)

Christine (1984) & Night Shift (1987) – Stephen King

I love these retro paperbacks. If I had the space I’d keep them and try to collect them all, but I don’t! Night Shift is King’s first short story collection which includes The Children of the Corn and the story which was adapted into the movie Cat’s Eye. Both of these books have creased spines but I think it adds to the retro feel. They would look awesome on any bookshelf!

The Running Man (1989) – Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman)

The original dystopia? If you haven’t read this book or seen the movie adaptation you might not realise how much it has in common with The Hunger Games – and if you’re a fan then you MUST read it. So, so good. This movie tie-in paperback is in great condition and I love how 80s it looks.

The Shorter Poems of William Wordsworth (1927)

This is my Book of the Month! It is so stunning. I am completely in love with the old Everyman’s Library collection with their beautiful endpapers. Every book in the earlycollection has these, and along with the gold gilt text…just LOVE. I’ll be really surprised if this doesn’t get snapped up quickly (but I’m secretly hoping that it doesn’t so I can keep it)!

The Anatomy of Melancholy, Volume 1 (first edition) by Richard Burton (1932)

Another of the Everyman’s Library collection and just as stunning. I wasn’t sure how much to sell this for, seeing as it’s a first edition, but I don’t want to be greedy – I just want them to go to a good home and get a bit of pocket money in return – LOL. So this could be the deal of a century…who knows? 😉

About the Shop

Exciting News

I have decided to widen the range of things I sell on Etsy as well. At Christmas, when I was out of work, instead of buying presents I made each member of my family Christmas hampers, and they went down a storm. I am now back in work (and I love my job soooooo much), but having taken a large pay cut I find myself struggling for money, so I thought why not try to make some extra spends by selling handmade gifts!?

It might all go terribly wrong, but I’m currently working on a range of handmade candles using all recycled materials, and other handmade gifts to sell. I’m hoping to add these to my shop in the coming months, and especially in the lead-up to Christmas.

So if you want to help a girl out, keep checking back. xxx

Lipsyy Lost & Found Vintage Book Shop Update

As promised, I’m dedicating some posts to all the goings on in my Etsy vintage book shop. Because we all love vintage books, right!?

I’ve pretty much neglected my Esty shop for two months and didn’t add any stock or promote it in any way (who’s got time for that when there’s reading to be done), but I didn’t stop buying vintage books, of course! So when two of my items sold, it gave me a kick up the bum to get some more added this week.

I still have so many books to clean up, photograph and add, but I’m getting there slowly. I think I’ll add another five or so in the next few week and hopefully run a bank holiday sale at the end of May. Watch this space!

Anyway, here’s what’s happened since my last shop post.

[Click on the book titles to view in the shop]

Items Sold:

Oddly enough, the only two books I actually managed to add in the last two months, were the two that sold, to the same customer. Yay!

Le Petite Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1951 (in French, illustrated).

The Complete Plays of Bernard Shaw, 1937

Items Added:

The Letters of Junius, 1890

This book just screams antique. It’s got the gold gilt lettering and ragged pages…and let’s not even get started on the smell!

I don’t know much about this book, other than what I read on Wiki (“a collection of private and open letters from an anonymous polemicist Junius, as well as other letters in-reply from people to whom Junius had written between 1769 and 1772”) so I’m hoping it will tickle someone’s fancy.

The Painting of L.S Lowry by Mervyn Levy, 1979

This is a lovely collection of Lowry’s oil and watercolour paintings.

Lowry was an English artist born in Stretford, Lancashire, famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England during the mid-20th century.

I’m sure someone will snap this up soon, it’s in great condition.

My Life by Debbie Reynolds, 1989

I’m not sure if this will be popular, but I love the pure 80s cover! I’m hoping with the new Star Wars film being a hot topic atm that people will be interested in the life of Carrie Fisher’s mum, no?

This book has had the most views and favourites over the last few months, but has yet to sell. C’mon people, it’s four books in one!

If you have an Etsy store, link me and I’ll follow you 🙂

Vintage Book Shop ~ Now Open!

As promised in my proposed schedule, I’m dedicating some posts to all the goings on in my Etsy vintage book shop. Because we all love vintage books, right!?

The past fortnight has been a bit slow, but then I wasn’t exactly expecting to be bombarded with orders so I’m pretty happy overall.

Items Sold:

A friend of mine took a shine to Spike Milligan’s Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall, and instead of selling it to her we agreed on a swap for an old SLR Camera she was going to put on Freecycle. Score.

I also sold the first Holmes & Watson story, A Study in Scarlet, so that’s 2/2 Penguin Classics gone. I knew they’d be popular but didn’t expect them to go that quickly. Must find more!

Items Added:

Le Petite Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1951 (in French, illustrated).

I love this book. Clearly, I can’t read French, but it’s a beautiful edition of the Children’s Classic. I hope this gets snapped up by someone who will love it!

The Complete Plays of Bernard Shaw, 1937

This is definitely a WOW book. The leather-bound cover complete with medallion on the frontispiece makes it look pretty grand. I can’t say I’ve ever been a fan of Bernard Shaw, so I want it to go to a home that will appreciate it more.

You can view my shop here.

If you have an Etsy store, link me and I’ll follow you 🙂

Lipsy Lost & Found Vintage Book Shop – Now Open!

One of my favourite things in the world is scouring second-hand bookshops, charity shops, book fayres, and car boot sales for beautiful old books. So I decided that the only way I can continue this hobby is to start selling some of them (so I can buy more – of course), SOB.

Just three years after opening an Etsy account (that’s how long it’s taken me to convince myself to part with these books – LOL), I’ve finally added some stock to my shelves. I’d love it if you’d come take a look – if not just to browse.

Click here to enter Vintage Words, Lost and Found.

I’ll be steadily adding more books (I have so many!) and will be posting shop-related posts on Saturdays when new stock makes the journey from cupboard to virtual shelf!

I don’t want people to think this is just a money-making scheme, I genuinely love the books I’m selling. And I like browsing, and finding hidden gems more than anything, so I thought you guys might like to see the books I’ve found over the years and continue to dig out – I’m not trying to convince you to buy them!

Here’s what my shop looks like at the moment – I’m really pleased I’ve managed to sell two books so far, in the run-up to Christmas.