Chris Saunders, Ian Marr, Stephen Foster

The first person I met as I headed into the York National Book Fair was the legendary American bookman, David Bauman (Bauman Rare Books) – branches in Philadelphia, New York (Madison Avenue) and Las Vegas.  What a feather in the cap for the PBFA and the York Fair to have him not just visiting – but exhibiting too.   Impressive stuff.   A friendly greeting, a warm handshake, and the fair is all around us – Britain’s largest, Europe’s largest – aisle after aisle, floor after floor. 

Jean Hedger

Stand One – here’s Jean Hedger, looking jolly and just lunched.  She asks why I’m wearing my pyjamas, did I have an early start?  I point out rather acidly that this a new shirt, a gift from Anne, and that just because it has a boldish stripe that doesn’t make it a pyjama top.  Stand Two – here’s Robert Frew.   Brief word with him and then I spy on the Bernard Quaritch stand none other than my Australian counterpart, Sally Burdon (Asia Bookroom), President of ANZAAB. 

Sally Burdon

Sally’s back visiting old family haunts, both here and in her husband’s Ireland, before they head on to the ILAB Congress in Lucerne.  We discuss one or two of the matters to come up at the ILAB Presidents’ Meeting this weekend – and I look forward to seeing her again in Switzerland.

Quick hello to Ian Smith (Bernard Quaritch) – spin round – here’s Philip Burden (Clive A.

Philip Burden

Burden) with a really rather attractive Saxton map.   And so it goes on – over 200 exhibitors, over fifty ABA members – I spoke to most of them – but don’t worry, I’m not going to list them all.  Another posse of ABA members on the next aisle, or two, or three – Jonkers Rare Books, Stephen Foster, Christopher Saunders, Bow Windows Bookshop, Paul Foster, Ian Marr, Elaine Beardsell (Toll House Books), Demetzy Books, Fine Books at Ilkley, Collectable Books, Nigel Traylen (Ventnor Rare Books) – hadn’t seen Nigel in quite a while.  Asked how he was enjoying the move from shop to working from home – and he looked happy enough and seemed refreshed by the change.

Happy Fletchers

Happier still were Keith and Marina Fletcher (H. M. Fletcher)  – they had only just heard that they had become grandparents for the very first time.  Beaming broadly – congratulations to them – and welcome from us all in the rare book world to young Jacob Fletcher.  Enjoying the fair (obviously) – but itching to be on their way home.

Ran into three lovely ladies from the British Library – enjoying the fair, enjoying meeting the booksellers who find them the treasures.  On to congratulate Tony Fothergill (Ken Spelman) and Janette Ray on organising yet another outstanding fair here in York. It really has become a fair that no-one can afford to miss. 

Peter Miller

Always good to see Peter Miller (Ken Spelman) – claims he’s retired now, just a consultant – but he’s here, he’s not gone away, and frankly, I don’t think he can keep away.  Maggs Bros. aren’t exhibiting this year, but here’s Carl Williams having a look round – he tells me that he has been asked to do a reprise of his recent Senate House talk in our Book Collecting Seminars series at no less an institution than Harvard University – honoured, flattered and I know they’ll enjoy it as much as we did.

Philip Barraclough

Joe McCann from Maggs is here too – but something’s gone wrong – so busy chatting, I haven’t bought a book yet.  Soon remedied with a most attractive signed and jacketed John Buchan from Stephen Dick (Holybourne Rare Books).  An album of Lakeland views by William Banks of Edinburgh – really must do that post about him I have been planning – from dear old Larry Hutchison.  Spend a cordial while comparing notes with by PBFA counterpart, George Newlands (McLaren Books) – he too has closed a shop to work from home.  But one thing I really must do without further delay is to head upstairs to seek out our newest member – Philip Barraclough (York Modern Books) – elected to the ABA just forty-eight hours earlier.  Congratulations and welcome, Philip.  And thank you too for the delightful association copy of Ted Hughes’ first book – I shall enjoy cataloguing that.

Steve Dickson

Back downstairs, turn a corner, and run into my old colleague and assistant Steve Dickson (Adam & Eve Books).  Delightful man.  No-one more pleasant or more at ease with the customers.  He used to have the World’s End Bookshop before Giles Lyon took it over – he’s here too somewhere I think.  We catch up a bit and agree to have a drink together later in the year.

Roger Treglown

About done for the day – time to seek out my hotel.  A quiet and not over bibulous dinner with my old friend Roger Treglown.  Roger’s long been a vegetarian, but has now given up dairy as well – and I must admit he is looking extremely well on it.  Somewhat miraculously, we find something non-meat and non-dairy to eat in an Italian restaurant – and off to bed for an early night.  Early start needed for Day Two at York tomorrow.