Book left on the shelf finally sold – 27 years on
A LONG established Southport bookshop enjoyed a surprise moment of fame after sharing news of finally selling a book which had sat on its shelves for 27 years.
Broadhurst’s, in Market Street, posted the news on Twitter, only to be blown away by the response as hundreds of thousands of users liked and shared it.
The children’s biography of William the Conqueror was bought new, in May, 1991, but has remained on the shelves until this weekend, when a man bought it for his 12-year-old grandson, who is studying the Normans.
The book was sold for 99p, its original price in 1991.
The tweet, which was posted by shop assistant Dr Jo Ball, on the store’s account, read: “I have just sold a book that we have had in stock since May, 1991. We always knew its day would come.”
It has since been liked 15,000 times and shared by more than 140,000 people. Since then, Dr Ball has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4 and featured on specialist book websites.
Kate Chasterton, who works in the children’s room at Broadhurst’s, said that it was hugely exciting to see the news enjoyed by so many book lovers.
She said: “A gentleman came in looking for books on the Normans, for his 12-year-old grandson. When he went downstairs to pay for them, my colleague, Jo, noticed that the slip inside said it was bought in 1991.
“She thought it was interesting and did this tweet and the response was incredible. It’s been shared in Australia, Canada... all over the world.
“We’ve been here for nearly 100 years and it’s pleasing to know people still love shops like ours.”
She added: “It just rang a bell and then lots of people have been tweeting their own stories and it’s started a story in itself. We’re hoping the gentleman will come back in and we can tell him all about it.”
Broadhurt’s has been open since 1922 and current owner Laurie Hardman has worked there for the past 50 years.