Sorting through some of the vintage books today, and came across this sweet little book. It's called "The Bunyan Text Book. A Selection of Choice Passages for Every Day in the Year, from 'The Pilgrim's Progress' and Other Works by the Same Author". There is no date on the book itself, but a few of the entries are dated 1948.
It's obviously come from a box when my parents downsized and unloaded some of their books to me. It's inscribed to Mabel Ware, who was my father's grandmother. Mabel has clearly used it as a birthday book. And right there on 1 January is Dad's name. He was a New Year baby - which didn't work terribly well for birthday catchups when we were young adults. The birthdates of Dad's brother and sisters are all in there as well. We lost Dad in the October before Covid, so it's really special to find something like this.
You can likely guess that this isn't going to go on a shelf for sale. I'll tuck it away in a special place in my own stuff. Perhaps the kids will find it themselves one day.
On the back cover is a lovely little pencilled quote:
If some despondent soul to hope is stirred
Some sad lip made to smile
By any act of ours or any word
Then life has been worthwhile.
This is part of a new blog series I'm thinking about running - just little snippets of my bookselling life. Do you think that's something you'd be interested in reading about? Daily, weekly, monthly, not in a million years?
A precious find for you specially but for all of us ... definitely worth a monthly snippet if you have the time and inclination Jo.
Wonderful idea. And a great first entry. Go forth!!
Dearest Jo
A gift in so few words and images has touched my heart most wonderfully.
And in my quest to write a reply worthy of sending I've spent a delightfully enlightening hour exploring the words of others.
I've included some below in the hope they move you as they did me as I read them in light of your own words.
My proclamation? A Bookseller's Life is welcome ad infinitum.
Robyn
......
The fruits of my afternoon explorations
Coming upon a quote for the heart of a bookseller
"The creation story in which Ptah creates the universe by conceiving it in his mind and bringing it to reality by his speech... from around 700BC.
‘The sight of the eyes,…
Oh yes please Jo. That would be wonderful ❤️
What a precious find Jo! I would really enjoy reading a blog series about little snippets of your bookselling life. I love finding pre used and worn books and I especially love it when I find marginalia in one of them, or interesting 'bookmarks', the feeling as I hold a well used book in my hands is one of wonder, I seem to be able to feel the energy of the book, I think to myself; 'how many others have held this book and read it or even just dipped into it, where has the book travelled, how long has it lain somewhere stored away waiting for someone to discover it again? there are so many wonderings.......please do write yo…