LINKS of interest to book collectors
Links, links & more links!
You get the idea: if it's about books and book collecting, we'll post the link and let everyone see where it leads. So do please click and follow... and enjoy the destination.
As you can see, we've split the links into four categories:
1: Buying & Selling
2: Keeping & Collecting
3: Looking & Reading
4: Publishing & Printing
I know they're rather vague and overlap a bit, but we've got to start somewhere. Just click on an individual link below to go the relevant website page.
Do please let us know of any links that are broken, and do please suggest any we should add. (Our only caveat is that we prefer links that do not lead to a paywall!)
As ever, you can contact us HERE.
Best regards
Richard Martin
Books come and go... What fun!
International book fair calendar
Independent booksellers around the world offer millions of books from the mundane to the rarest antiquarian on one website.
A shop (in Cecil Court, London) and a website offering antiquarian maps, books, and prints. Explore the rich and fascinating world of 'bits of old paper'.
A great range of books... Food History, Cultural History, Medicine, Health, Women, Manuscripts, & Ephemera
Based in St Paul (Minnesota), they buy and sell rare books, particularly early and unusual printing, hence the interest for PLA members.
The Australian & New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers
They represent the antiquarian book trade in Australia and New Zealand.
The guide aims to list all the secondhand bookshops in the UK and the Republic of Ireland; all shops where books, the main or only stock, are available for visitors to browse.
The UK Antiquarian Booksellers Association
Useful information about UK book fairs and booksellers, interesting articles, resources and links on their new, easy to use website.
Source of rare and out of print books but with insights into the market, pricing and regulations.
A bookshelf becomes a library
The Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies
US members and international affiliates (of which the PLA is one). You 'll find on their website the address, contact details and link for each of their member clubs, from the Alcuin Society to the Zamorano Club. They offer public access to their newsletter and their blog, which gives details of events and fairs among other news.
It is not in any way associated with our own Association, and is probably a bit out of date, but it offers excellent resources, links and interesting articles for the book collector.
The Society's purpose is to encourage the production, use, collecting, and study of bookplates. They achieve this through their publications, members’ auctions, visits to collections, social events, talks, and exhibitions.
Libraries & online resources
Library Hub Discover - Brings together the catalogues of over 205 major UK and Irish libraries (and growing). In a single search you can discover the holdings of the UK’s national libraries (including the British Library), many university libraries, and specialist research libraries.
The British Library - Not only offers on-line access to their immense general catalogue but provides access to hundreds of other databases, digital image repositories, catalogues and bibliographic resources.
The Wellcome Library - Membership of which is also free, provides free on-line access to their catalogue and other bibliographical resources. 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE.
How books come to 'be'
ATypI, Association Typographique Internationale
The global forum and focal point for the type community and business.
Lettering Arts Trust — Site for calligraphy, letterpress, linocut and letter carving workshops.
High-quality design and letterpress printing, mainly of limited edition books. Established 40 years.
an international organization promoting the creation, study, and collection of contemporary book arts
"Ink and paper are in my blood", says Graham Williams, and a look round his website suggests he is spot on! Do have a look.
An American based daily update on all aspects of the book trade, authors, news, publications and even scandal.
Monotype machine type-casting: the bee's knees of printing, as Pat Randle, son of John, is the bee's knees of printers!
Letterpress printers offering training courses.
Currently dormant, but potentially Britain’s leading Fine Press printers, a wide range of design, printing and publishing amateurs and professionals.
All the trade news, and all about today's authors
The Centre for Printing History and Culture
This is a joint initiative between Birmingham City University and the University of Birmingham and consists of researchers, heritage professionals and librarians. It seeks to encourage research into all aspects and periods of printing history and culture, as well as education and training into the art and practice of printing.
Paul Johnson called Simon Lawrence's company: ‘The highest quality private publishing firm in the country’
Site for calligraphy, letterpress, linocut and letter carving workshops.
The Society promotes the work of the Powys brothers: John Cowper, Theodore (T.F.), and Llewelyn.
The prestigious periodical of the Private Library Association is always looking for good articles about fine print, private presswork, relevant authors.
Events, competitions and news.
Type and Press - International letterpress and printmaking information from a Belgium graphic designer.