6 dealers for vintage and antique books
Escape the everyday by delving into the pages of a rare book
Cheltenham Rare Books
This shop is run by Mark Skipper in Cheltenham, dealing in first editions, fine and rare books covering subjects including fiction, poetry, plays, crime and fantasy. The comprehensive website is supported by an inspiring Instagram account. 01242 361594; @cheltenhamrarebooks; cheltenhamrarebooks.co.uk
Cooper Hay Rare Books, Glasgow As well as a beautiful antiquarian store in Glasgow (perfect for that lovely old- book smell), this bookshop also has a good website and Instagram account. The latter is particularly interesting for those who appreciate old bindings.
0141 221 3922; @cooperhayrarebooks; cooperhay.com
Daniel Crouch Rare Books
This beautiful London book store sells exquisite antiquarian books on travel and discovery, plus vintage and antique maps, atlases, plans and sea charts from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Trawling the website is a joy, with interesting stories and features alongside intriguing tomes for sale, such as a rare edition of the chronicle
A Sea of Stories, published before 1552 (£24,000). 020 7042 0240; @crouchrarebooks; crouchrarebooks.com
John Atkinson John has been buying and selling books since 2007, specialising in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and also focusing on female writers of the 1950s. Prices are accessible at around £50 to £800, with rarer books in the thousands. John has a bricks- and- mortar shop in Harrogate as well as an online store. 01423 561461; @johnatkinsonbks; johnatkinsonbooks.co.uk;
Peter Harrington The range of books sold at Peter Harrington is vast, with prices starting at sub-£100 and going past the million- pound mark for particularly rare items. Run by Pom Harrington (Peter’s son), there are shops in Chelsea and Mayfair, as well as the website and social media. Highlights include an incredibly rare 1908 first edition, first impression of The Wind
in the Willows (£60,000). 020 7591 0220; @peterharringtonrarebooks; peterharrington.co.uk
Shapero The stunning shop in London’s Mayfair is complemented by an excellent website, which is fun to navigate, especially in the food and drink section that has titles veering from
The Savoy Cocktail Book (£750) to Tinned Foods and How to Use Them (£150). The Instagram account is a feast for the eyes, too. 020 7493 0876; @shaperorarebooks; shapero.com
Market, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury- on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ. 6.30am–2pm. Free (£10 before 8am). sunburyantiques.com
11th–13th Petersfield Antiques Fair, Festival Hall, Heath Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4EA. 01825 744074; penman-fairs.co.uk
12th–13th Hackney Flea Market, Abney Hall, 73a Church Street, Hackney, London, N16 0AS. 11am– 6pm. Free. hackneyfleamarket.com
13th Tree of Ages Antiques Fair, Stanhill Court Hotel, Stan Hill, Charlwood, Surrey, RH6 0EP. 9am– 4pm. treeofages.co.uk
13th Midcentury Modern, Dulwich College, London, SE21 7LD. 10am– 4pm. £11 (£10 advance). @midcentury_modern; modernshows.com
15th Epsom Racecourse Antiques & Collectables Fair, Epsom Racecourse, Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5LQ. 9am– 3pm. £3. continuityfairs.co.uk
20th Dorking Halls Antiques & Decorative Arts Fair, Dorking Halls, Reigate Road (A25), Surrey, RH4 1SG. 10.30am– 4pm (trade from 9.30am). £2.50. dovehousefineantiquesfairs.com
20th The Big London Flea, EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), 13–15 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 8BH. 11am–5pm. £1. hackneyfleamarket.com
20th Adams Antiques Fair, Lindley Hall, The Royal Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PE. 10am– 4.30pm. £4. adamsantiquesfairs.com
23rd–27th The Chelsea Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, London, SW3 5EE. chelseaantiquesfair.co.uk
26th–27th So Last Century Vintage Fair, Goldsmiths, University of London, Lewisham Way, London, SE14 6NW. 11am– 4pm. £3. solastcenturyfair.co.uk
West & Wales
5th V&H Fairs Vintage Jumble Sale, Rangeworthy Village Hall, Rangeworthy, South Glos, BS37 7LZ. 10am–1pm. Free. vintageandhandmade.co.uk
11th–13th Shepton Mallet Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair, Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN. 12pm– 5pm Fri, 9am– 5pm Sat, 10am– 4pm Sun. £10 Friday, £5 Sat and Sun. iacf.co.uk
12th–13th Swansea Vintage, Antique & Makers Market, The National