The Book Collector Podcast

Appearing in our Spring 2018 issue, the obituary of Iona Opie pays tribute to a world-famous authority on children's literature, folklore and notions of play. It is read by Virginia Ferguson.

Actor and Book man, Neil Pearson narrates a new Podcast series for The Book Collector, featuring articles written by legendary bookdealer John Saumarez Smith. This first episode, A Knockout Novel by a Compulsive Idler, comes from The Book Collector's Spring 2010 issue and takes a look at the operation of the infamous ring system used at country book auctions via a 1957 novel called Knock or Ring.

A Personal Chapter was written by Percy H Muir for The Book Handbook in 1951. It is read by James Fleming, editor of The Book Collector.

Our Podcast this week is an unusual one for The Book Collector, in that it is a piece of fiction. Written by Alan Noel Latimer Mumby for our Spring Issue in 1958, The Comte De Marnay is a short story about a passionate book collector and the lengths to which he goes to protect his treasures. It is an immersive tale, told by the former Librarian of Kings College, Cambridge, and delightfully read by Virginia Ferguson.

This is Part 2 of the memoir of Emil Offenbacher, printed in The Book Collector's Summer Issue for 2022 with the kind permission of Emil's children, Florence Offenbacher Keller and Claude Offenbacher. It is read by James Fleming. This memoir is an account of a young Jewish-German bookseller and his family in their bid to escape Europe in the midst of the Second World War.

The Memoir of Emil Offenbacher, a German Jewish bookseller working in France in the 1930s, recounting his experiences during World War Two. The memoir was first published in the Spring 2022 Issue of the Book Collector, and is read in the podcast by James Fleming. The Introduction was written by Emil's children, Florence and Claude Offenbacher, and is read by Virginia Ferguson.

The twelfth and final episode of Fred Bason's Dairy, produced by The Book Collector, read by Clive Farahar and sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books of Tunbridge Wells.

Episode 11 of the podcast series, Fred Bason's Diary, read by Clive Farahar, produced by The Book Collector and sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books of Tunbridge Wells

Episode 10 of Fred Bason's Diary, read by Clive Farahar, produced by The Book Collector and sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books of Tunbridge Wells.

In this, the ninth episode of Fred Bason's Diary we see our favourite cockney bookseller facing his biggest challenge yet - the bombing of London in World War II. Listen now to hear how he faced this latest disaster and recounts previous challenges of his past life of poverty. It is read by Clive Farahar, produced by The Book Collector, and sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books of Tunbridge Wells.

Episode 8 of Fred Bason's Diary, read by Clive Farahar. Produced by The Book Collector, sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books

This is Episode 7 of the popular Fred Bason Podcast series, produced by The Book Collector, sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books.  As he comes to the end of the 1930s Fred wonders how he can improve his appreciation of poetry, takes a long trip to Liverpool, goes to the Proms, and has a friendly run-in with Jeffrey Farnol on a bench in Brighton.

Featured in our Autumn Issue for 1968, this article appeared in The Book Collector's series of 'Uncollected Authors'. Written by Claude A. Prance, this article covers the works of Gilbert White, author of 'The Natural History of Selborne', including many letters and manuscripts sent between friends and family members. The podcast is read by Kate Rooksby.

The sixth episode of Fred Bason's Diary Podcast series, read by Clive Farahar. Now in the mid 1930s, Fred has a run-in with Rudyard Kipling, whom he names 'the nastiest tempered celebrity', writes a record for Ovaltine on Radio Luxemburg, and attempts to read the work of Albert Einstein for the first time. Fred Bason's Dairy is a Book Collector Podcast, sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books, of Tunbridge Wells

In this fifth episode of Fred Bason's Diary, Fred muses on the ins and outs of bookselling, shares witty anecdotes and tries cranberries for the first time.

The fourth episode of Fred Bason's diary, a podcast by The Book Collector, sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books and read by Clive Farahar. In this episode, Fred shares some tips for how to be a good bookseller in London in the 1930s, and recounts some of his more dramatic experiences of life in London.

This is the third episode of Fred Bason's Diary, a Book Collector podcast, sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books. Once again, Clive Farahar brings Fred back to life in this incredible reading from his 1930s diary.

The second of this twelve-part series of Fred Bason's Diary, read by Clive Farahar. In this episode Fred shares his views on women and dating in 1920s London, and embarks on a trip to Paris.

The first in this new podcast series (12 episodes in total) recounts the life of Fred Bason, a cockney bookseller, as he embarks on a new career in 1920s South London. It is read by Clive Farahar, a prominent rare bookseller himself, who brings Fred to life with all his wit, charm and charisma. This podcast is sponsored by Adrian Harrington Rare Books of Tunbridge Wells

An open letter from Nicolas Barker, former editor of The Book Collector, from our issue for Spring 1978.

First published in The Book Collector's special Issue for Ian Fleming in Spring 1917, Jon Gilbert writes of his experience collecting the works of Ian Fleming, and creating the world-renowned bibliography. It is read by James Fleming The new book, 'Bond Behind the Iron Curtain', by James Fleming is now available to purchase from www.thebookcollector.co.uk

The Book Collector's 50th Podcast - A personal account by James Fleming of the relationship between the two brothers, Ian and Richard Fleming, first printed in the Book Collector for our special Ian Fleming issue in Spring 2017. Bond Behind the Iron Curtain, by James Fleming is available to pre-order at www.thebookcollector.co.uk/store

A review article, unsigned and anonymously contributed to The Book Collector in the issue for Summer 1962. It appeared as part of the Portrait of a Bibliophile series, but is in reality a review of the book, 'Ex Libris'. It is read by James Fleming.

This article 'Firma Tauchnitz', written by Simon Nowell-Smith for The Book Collector's Winter 1966 issue, takes a detailed look at the Tauchnitz publishing house, founded by Christian Bernhard Tauchnitz in Leipzig, 1837, and his efforts in helping to establish the first international copyright laws. It is read by James Fleming.

This article appears as the 16th installation of our 'Portrait of a Bibliophile' series in The Book Collector's Summer 1972 issue. It was written by James S. Dearden and covers the life and collections of John Ruskin. It is read by Lavinia Sidgwick.

Following last week's podcast about The New STC, this is the Obituary of its creator, Katherine Pantzer. It was written by Nicolas Barker and appeared in the Book Collector's Winter Issue for 2005. It is read by Ellen Miller.

This article was written by Arthur Freeman, published in The Book Collector's Spring 1978 Issue. 'The New STC' refers to the revised and enlarged 'Short-Title Catalogue of Books in England, Scotland and Ireland, and of English books printed abroad 1475 - 1640'. This article details the significance of the New STC, made possible by the American bibliographer, Katherine Ferriday Panzer, who devoted her working life to bibliography. Her revisions of the original 1926 STC was published in two volumes in 1976 and 1986, followed by the 1991 volume of indexes for which she won the Besterman Medal for an outstanding bibliography. Panzer's obituary, by Nicolas Barker, will be the subject of our next Podcast.

This is the last of the Biblio-Vignettes series, written by Ann Baer for The Book Collector between 2010 - 2015. This podcast includes: Unexpected Resemblances Stoning Charlotte Bronte The Corpse in the Piano They are all read by Sarah Bennett

This article, titled 'A Family Affair: The Garnet Family Book Collection', was written by J. Lawrence Mitchell, director of the Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A & M University. It was published in The Book Collector's Spring 2013 issue, marking Richard Garnett's 90th birthday, and is read by James Fleming. Read along between 12/5/2021 - 19/5/2021 with this link: https://bit.ly/3bl91z3

A review of 'Bibliotheca Lindesiana. The Lives and Collections of Alexander William 25th Earl of Crawford and 8th earl of Balcarres, and James Ludovic, 26th Earl of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres' (London, 1977, Bernard Quaritch, £25). The book was written by Nicolas Barker, former editor of The Book Collector, and reviewed by Robert Birley, former headmaster at Eton College (1949 - 1963). The Review appeared in The Book Collector's Winter Issue, 1978. It is read by James Fleming.

Today's podcast focuses on Cyril Wilkinson (1888 - 1960), a colonel, a distinguished student of Literature, a Fellow at Worcester College, Oxford, and a pre-eminent eccentric. We begin with his obituary, written by Nicolas Barker for The Book Collector in 1966, and published again in 2019 by Bernard Quaritch Ltd in 'At First All Went Well and Other Brief Lives'. This is followed (at the 10min mark) by an article written by Wilkinson himself for The Book Collector entitled 'A Small Collection At Oxford', which appeared in our Spring 1956 issue. Both are read by James Fleming.

For this, our 40th Podcast, we present one legend writing of another. John Carter wrote this article in tribute to Percy Muir in the year of his 80th birthday. It appeared in our Winter issue of 1974, and is read by James Fleming.

Time for another instalment of Biblio-Vignettes from The Book Collector. This anecdotal series was written by Ann Baer. This episode includes 'Everyman's Daughter', 'Hare and Hounds in the Lake District' and 'Ce N'est Pas Laguerre'. they are all read by Sarah Bennett.

The obituary of the renowned publisher, Sir Rupert Hart-Davis, was written by Nicolas Barker and appeared in our Spring issue for 2000. It was also published by Quaritch in 'At First All Went Well'. It is read by James Fleming, whose uncle Peter Fleming was a good friend of Sir Rupert.

Written by Alan Walbank for The Book Collector's Spring 1957 issue, James Fleming now reads 'Country Collecting' in a time of national lockdown, taking us on a dreamy, nostalgic journey through country bookshops.

From The Book Collector's 'Unfamiliar Libraries' series which ran from the 1960s - 1980s, and included thirty entries in all. Barnbougle Castle in Scotland featured as number seven in the series. The library houses some of the Rosebery family collection, including a large collection of Napoleonica, and this account, from our Spring 1962 issue, was written by Countess Eva Rosebery. It is read here by Lavinia Sidgwick.

Appearing in our Summer issue for 1953, this article speaks of the relationship between printmaker, Eric Gill, and the author, Robert Gibbings, who was Artistic Director of the Golden Cockerel Press between 1924 - 1933. The article - available via our digital archive - includes some lovely examples of Gill's illustrative prints. It is read by James Fleming.

'Hawkshaw Rides Again', written by John Carter, first appeared in our Summer 1963 issue. It is read here by James Fleming.

This is the third collection of Biblio-vignettes, recorded for The Book Collector Podcasts. The original articles were written by Ann Baer, formerly Ann Sidgwick, and they are read here by Sarah Bennett. This collection includes 'Misaddressed Letters', 'Hand-to-Mouth at Gregynog' and 'A. H. Bullen's Hope Eternal'.

This article describes a collection of books from William Beckford's library, found in Barnbougle and sold by the Rosebery family. Barnbougle, a tower house on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in Scotland, was rebuilt in 1881 by the 5th Earl of Rosebery, who served as Prime Minister from 1894–1895. The article is written by Countess Eva Rosebery, who married the Sixth Earl of Rosebery in 1924. It was published in our Autumn 1965 issue, and is read by Lavinia Sidgwick.

Kate Rooksby reads for us the Obituary of Albinia (Tilly) de la Mare, the English librarian and palaeographer who specialised in Italian Renaissance manuscripts. This obituary was published in our Spring 2002 issue and is written by Nicolas Barker.

This is the second part of our Fourth Leaders series, taken from the short articles written for The Times in the 1950s. In 1958 the title was changed from 'Fourth Leaders' to 'Mainly Personal'. These pieces, read by James Fleming, include: 'Wrestling in Turkey' 'Ghost Ship, Very Much Alive' 'Mr. Ruskin's Tea Shop'

This is Part 2 of our Biblio-Vignettes series, written by Ann Baer for The Book Collector between 2010 - 2014. This Podcast includes the following three charming 'vignettes': Bewick Off A Barrow Frank, Hugh and Jeremy A Table Outside in Tunbridge Wells They are all read by Sarah Bennett.

This article from The Book Collector's Summer 1959 issue is written by John Dreyfus and discusses the then-newly-released bibliography of John Baskerville's books by Dr Philip Gaskell. It is read by James Fleming.

Between 2010 and 2014 Ann Baer wrote a series of anecdotal stories for The Book Collector, known as the Biblio-vignettes. Now, as Ann approaches her 106th birthday, we are recording these sixteen vignettes in a series of Podcasts. This is the first, a reading by Sarah Bennett of the first four: Painting for John Hayward The 'Gravy Soup' Plagiarism Mr Tennyson's Pudding Bernard Shaw's Beard

John Windle reads 'How I shot JR', an essay by Eric Korn that was written for the TLS and later published in 'Remainders' in 1989. In this essay, Korn muses on his foray into theatre in 1988. His translation of Jean Racine's 'Andromaque' for Jonathan Miller left critics baffled and he states: "I wasn't unduly alarmed by the prospect of critical abuse. I was doomed."

This week should have seen the streets of Bath enlivened with the regency spirit of the Jane Austen Festival. Unfortunately this 20th Anniversary event became another casualty of the COVID-19 crisis and was cancelled.  In place of the festival we have a small offering on Jane Austen from The Book Collector archives. Tom Fleming reads 'Jane Austen in Europe', which was written by David Gilson for our Spring 2003 issue.

Written by Peter Fleming in 1953, these extracts from The Times 4th Leaders include '7000 Puzzles' and 'The Intrepid Advertiser'. They are read by James Fleming.

'Ian Fleming – The Notes' is a collection of notes by John Pearson, taken during his research for his 1966 biography of Ian Fleming, 'The Life of Ian Fleming'. Pearson had been Ian Fleming’s assistant at 'The Sunday Times' and later became the third official author of the 'James Bond' series, and wrote 'James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007' in 1973. This podcast is taken from a chapter of 'The Notes' regarding John Hayward. Hayward was Ian’s editor at The Book Collector and the two men didn’t always see eye-to-eye. Their strained relationship is captured perfectly through Pearson’s insightful notes taken during an interview with Hayward in 1965. We are thankful to Queen Anne Press for giving us permission to make this Podcast. It is read by James Fleming. http://www.queenannepress.co.uk/

This obituary for William (Bill) Dailey was written for our Spring 2018 issue. Bill was a bookseller and long-time ABAA member(W&V Dailey, later Dailey Rare Books), and his sudden death in December 2017 was a great loss, and cause of great sadness to many. In a tribute written for the ABAA, John Windle said "Bill had an eye for the unusual, the strange, the weird even, in books, art, and people. He wasn’t much of a shopkeeper but he filled their bookshop... with some of the most-interesting books and artwork I’ve ever seen." This obituary is written and read by Victoria Dailey, Bill's former wife and business partner.

Percy Muir and John Carter were both hugely influential to The Book Collector, and the post-war book world in general. "If the book trade was the vehicle by which they left their mark, it was a mark that extended far beyond the trade, influencing collectors and libraries and through them a world that stretched beyond the boundaries of academic life to those who never knew or have even heard of them." This article was written as a tribute to them by Nicolas Barker for our Winter 2004 issue, 25 years after the death of Percy Muir, and approaching the centenary of the birth of John Carter. The Book Collector Archive holds many of their most important works: www.thebookcollector.co.uk/archive

Written by H. Montgomery Hyde for The Book Collector’s Winter 1967 issue, this article details the Lamb House library of Henry James, Hyde's distant cousin. Hyde was an author, biographer, book collector barrister and politician, serving as Ulster Unionist MP for Belfast North. He was considered the most vocal of any MP on homosexual law reform in the 1950s and ultimately lost his seat as a result of his outspoken campaigning in favour of the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

"Nice chap. Shame about the books." This obituary for the 'hypnotic, manic and unrelenting' Eric Korn appeared in our Winter 2014 issue. Written by Ian Jackson, it is a witty and heartfelt gem of a tribute to this unique character from the world of book collecting. It is read by John Windle.

This is part two of the Josiah Kirby Lilly article by David Randall, from our Autumn 1957 issue. It is read by James Fleming.

This year the Lilly Library in Indiana celebrates 60 years. It is the home of the book collection of Ian Fleming, our founder, and so has always been of great interest to The Book Collector. This article, from our Autumn issue of 1957, is by David Randall and looks are the remarkable collection of Josiah Kirby (JK) Lilly. This Podcast comes in two parts. This, the first, is read by English actor, Rupert Vansittart, the second is read by our editor, James Fleming.

This week book shops across the UK are opening for the first time in three months. To celebrate we have decided to share an account of an extraordinary phantom book sale. Titled, 'The Library of Count de Fortsas, 1840', this article was published in number 6 of The Book Collectors Quarterly, in June 1932. It was written by William Blades, the famous bibliographer and printer, who was born 1824 and had direct knowledge of the events.

All The Book Collector Podcasts are special, but this one may be more special than others. It is Mark James, reading Anke Timmerman's article relating to Joseph Banks, the famous explorer and naturalist whose death 200 years ago is being remembered worldwide. 'A Palimpsest of Naturalists: The Manuscripts of the Linnean Society of London' was published in our Summer 2020 issue, in conjunction with the Linnean Society of London. A catalogue of Banks' engravings is available at www.typeandforme.com

In 1966 a devastating flood swept through the city of Florence, destroying homes and livelihoods, and killing 101 people. This article from our Spring 1967 issue (which was dedicated to Florence) is a first hand account from Mario Witt, of the terrible events. Witt bore witness, not only to the destruction, but also the huge rallying efforts from the community, local and international, to rescue and recover the countless books, collections and libraries that were almost entirely lost. This seemed like a timely article to record - a testament to the resilience and compassion of a community faced with a natural disaster.

In his 1961 obituary in The New York Times, Dashiell Hammett was described as "the dean of the 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction." And yet in our issue for Spring 1962 he was still considered an 'uncollected author'. Now Hammett is "widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time," which lends an interesting perspective to this article by Roger Stoddard. It is read by John Windle.

'Reminiscences of a California Collector' by Ellen Shaffer is an article on Carrie Estelle Doheny, 1875-1958, who was one of America's greatest collectors and founder of the Edward Laurence Doheny Memorial Library at St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, California.

'Railway Reading' was written by Alan Walbank for our Autumn 1960 issue. In it he looks at the challenges to collectors of these yellow-backed Railway novels, the bright ancestors of the Pan, Penguin and Pelican series of the late 20th century. It is read by James Fleming. If you enjoyed this Podcast, visit www.thebookcollector.co.uk and subscribe to receive your own beautifully bound, quarterly issues of The Book Collector, and access to our digital archive - all our issues since 1947.

This week's podcast comes from our popular Polar issue of Autumn 2018. 'Scribes in Ice and Darkness' was written and is read by Fergus Fleming, a renowned travel writer who has penned several books about polar exploration, including Ninety Degrees North, and Barrow's Boys. This article looks at the Polar newspapers; the people behind them, and the incredible efforts they went to to publish these papers in the most unimaginable conditions. An engrossing tale of human determination and resilience.

In March 1789 The Loiterer, a weekly journal edited by James Austen, received a long letter criticising its lack of suitable and engaging content for women. The letter was signed by 'Sophia Sentiment', though the true identity of the writer has never been firmly established. In this article from The Book Collector's Spring 1966 issue, Zachary Cope looks through the available evidence to establish whether 'Sophia Sentiment' may have been Jane Austen herself. It is read by Sarah Bennett

Published in our Summer issue for 2011, the obituary of Burton Weiss - the eccentric San Francisco bookseller - was written by Ian Jackson and is read here by John Windle.

‘A letter from the Lazaretto’ was researched, written and is read by Sheila Markham, the librarian at the Travellers’ Club in London. This piece, which has not yet appeared in The Book Collector, looks at quarantine conditions for 19th Century travellers, including those kept in isolation at the Lazaretto in Malta, where Lord Byron carved his name into the stone walls during his quarantine period. Sheila Markham has been a regular writer for The Book Collector, and has produced over 23 articles based upon her interviews with some of the book industry's top names.

Another extract from our popular Polar Special Issue from Autumn 2018. This article, entitled 'Cherry', explores the life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard, who, at 24 years old, was one of the youngest members of Captain Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition. Cherry's personal account of the expedition 'The Worst Journey in the World' (1922)became a classic of travel literature. This article was written, and is read, by our editor, James Fleming

Following the success of our podcast on the Hyde Collection, written by Donald and Mary Hyde and ready by Kate Rooksby, we have decided to follow it up with this; the obituary of Mary Hyde, who became Mary, Viscountess Eccles, following her second marriage. This obituary was written by Nicolas Barker in our Winter 2003 issue, and pays tribute to the incredible life of this legendary figure in the world of books. Read more and subscribe at www.thebookcollector.co.uk

Read by Kate Rooksby, this is article from Donald and Mary Hyde, written for The Book Collector's Autumn 1955 issue.  This was the sixth entry for our Contemporary Collections series and offers a lovely example of mid-twentieth-century book collecting. Read more and subscribe at www.thebookcollector.co.uk

In this article from our Polar Special Issue from Autumn 2018, Bryan Oates reflects on the life, adventures and collections of his famous Great-Uncle, Captain Oates. The man who uttered the famous last words; "I'm just going outside, and I may be some time..." The article is written, and read, by Prof. Bryan Oates. Subscribe and access the original article, along with the rest of the Special issue, and access our full archive back to 1952 at www.thebookcollector.co.uk

'Printing and the Mind of Man; The Inside Story' written by P. H. Muir for The Book Collector's Spring issue in 1967. Read here by James Fleming.

The Book Collector's first podcast! Percy Muir's article 'Ian Fleming: A Personal Memoir' from our Spring 1965 issue, read by Rupert Vansittart. Visit www.thebookcollector.co.uk and login/subscribe to read the original article via our online archive.