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The Death Rays of Ardilla by W.E. Johns – Rare Book Opportunity

The Biggles books are a well known childen’s adventure and aviation series of 30’s through to 70’s. My brother grew up on them. In fact, Biggles was an early catalogue item in the store from his old collection. However, W.e. Johns also wrote science fiction, and these are rarer and harder to find.

I came across the Death Rays of Ardilla (illustrated) in Perth, Western Australia, and despite it being an ex-library book (I generally don’t buy them, unless it’s a special and rare book like this), I added it to the list.

Here’s what we know about it:

The Death Rays of Ardilla is part of 10-volume science fiction series (1954–1963) that follows the interplanetary adventures of retired RAF Group Captain Timothy “Tiger” Clinton, his son Rex, scientist Professor Lucius Brane (who invents a spaceship powered by cosmic rays), and Brane’s resourceful butler, Judkins.

Synopsis: In their previous adventures, they encountered the planet Ardilla and its strange rays, which caused its inhabitants to develop thick skin in resistance. But reports are, the rays are getting stronger, and more deadly, and a mission to survey the planet has gone missing. The crew of the Tavona join the rescue mission – but what will they find? Meanwhile, a plucky young stowaway has hidden away on the ship, and finds himself seeing far more than he bargained for. It’s up to Tiger to get everyone home safely!

For a more detailed synopsis you can go to wejohns.com.

This copy is a baragin. Generally it sells for between $120 – 200 AUD, but I have priced it lower because it is ex-libris. If you’d like to see some of the other great John’s SciFi covers, then check these out.

You can grab this book now from the Livre Eclectica Etsy store! The illustrations are fabulous.

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The Secret Garden is in store!

It’s always a joy when a book comes into store that is a personal favourite. When I was a about eight years old, my darling sister read this entire book to me one summer holiday. She even assumed the Yorkshire accents to make it seem more entertaining. I still remember sitting in dad’s green armchair, one leg looped over the torn arm, rocking gently with my eyes closed, while she read chapter after chapter.

As I got older, I read and re-read this wonderful story of young people prevailing against odds and finding a place to belong, and the restorative power of nature. So when the book came into the shop last week, I revisited the story, and marvelled how Frances Hodgson Burnett had penned this in the very early 1900’s. Though there are now passages that are uncomfortable to read because they speak to racist and sexist beliefs of the time, and academics have dug deep into the problematic thematic elements of masculinty, femininity and the role of disability – the sweetness of the story still prevails, and it remains Top 100 as voted by Teachers. This 1956 edition is without a dust jacket, but it has some beautiful internal sketch illustrations.

The Secret Garden
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Our Best Tips for Buying at Secondhand Book Fairs

This weekend is the bi-annual Lifeline BookFest in Brisbane. It’s an event that I really look forward to. And even though I’m not a seasoned book hunter, I thought I’d share with you what I’ve learned the last few years from watching the dealers.

First in best dressed – There is no subsitute for arriving early and getting first pick. The Dealers rush in and just swoop up arm fulls of books, without spending too long deciding on them. I imagine this is partly because their experienced eyes can make snap decisions, but I think they must cull them later. They literally run between tables and fill their trolleys (and cars) up to the brim with booty.

Have a Focus – Go in with a plan of the kind of books you are looking for – publishing date range, fiction or non fiction, hardcover or paperback, dust jacket or no dust jacket. Know your limit on condition.

The Collector’s Section – There is always a section behind a counter where BookFest display books they think are collectible. Sometimes, these can be badly overpriced but their policy is that they will match a lower price from another bookstore, if you can show them evidence of it. Last year, I picked up a couple of Raymond Chandler books and was able to get a first edition reduced from the ticket price.

Bring a carry bag on wheels – BookFest have shopping trolleys you can use, but I prefer to take a cabin bag with wheels. It has a limited capacity which ensures I can get it home. P.S. Park your car close too!

Wear comfy shoes – There is a whole lot of standing on concrete floors and nowhere to sit.

Bring snacks – You don’t want to be relying on the Convention Centre eatery!

Avoid ex-library books – Sadly, the library stamps affect their value.

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Pick the Best Cover of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Currently, we have two editions of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the store that are presented so differently. It’s always fascinating to see the incarnations of covers when a book stays in print a long time. It’s a source of great interest to collectors. This gothic novella is considered to be a defining story in the horror genre. First published in 1886 and tells the story of …

the lawyer Gabriel John Utterson as he investigates some disturbing incidents involving his old friend, the talented doctor Henry Jekyll, and his mysterious and sinister new companion, Edward Hyde. The lawyer is worried about his friend after he changes his will to include Hyde in case of his death or disappearance. Fearing that the doctor is being blackmailed by the stranger, the lawyer sets out to confront him. (Audible)

One of our store copies is a US edition of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Suicide Club and was published by Arco in 1964, with illustrations by Charles Mozely. It has a similar pink and brown cover to the UK edition published in 1961. Very attractive blue boards and line drawings on the dust jacket. The look has a distinctly “literary” feel, as though it would sit happily on your bookshelf next to the Brontes and Jane Austen.

The second copy in store was published by Platt and Munk in 1965. Platt and Munk were a publisher founded by E. Platt and F. Munk in the early 1900s and it was well-known for its high-quality and affordable books for young readers. This cover is more playful and the book itself is larger with thicker paper.

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The Best Daphne du Maurier Books for Collectors

It’s curious how some authors and titles stand the test of time, while others lose favour and quickly fade into book history. Occasionally, those that fade may resurrect on the strength of a connection to a movie or some other inter-textual event, then sink again.

But what makes classic literature? Classic is defined as “judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind”. And there is no recipe for what elevates a story to that status.

Collectors of Daphne du Maurier believe that there is a special something about her writing that means it remains fresh and relevant today.  At one stage in the 1950’s she was considered the highest paid woman writer in the UK.

I had a reading period in my twenties that included du Maurier and many other dark romance, gothic writers such as Elizabeth Gaskell, Catherine Gaskin, Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy, and Sergeanne Golon. It introduced me to a depth in characterisation and the mystery of relationships. I think back on that era with much nostalgia and pleasure – titles such as Mistress of Mellyn, File on Devlin, Angelique, Rebecca and many others.

Currently in the store, we have four collectible and affordable du Maurier editions (and some Gaskin and Golon!):

This first edition of The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne du Maurier was published by Gollancz in 1965.

This first book club edition of The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier was published by The Book Club in 1950.
This edition of Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier was published by Gollancz in 1944. Eighth impression.
The first UK edition of The Glass Blowers by Daphne du Maurier was published by Gollancz in 1963
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Livre Eclectica – a little bit of our history

Livre Eclectica began as an Etsy store in 2021. I was living in Perth at the time and had a conversation with my brother about his years of collecting militaria, guitars, sheet music and other things. My brother was a very talented man, with a great sense of humour and a strong moral code. I was in trouble with him a fair bit growing up, as he took it upon himself to instil some values into me. At the time, I was resistant, but looking back on it now, he and my dad taught me a lot about kindness, respect, and doing the right thing by others-and myself. (Mum taught me about courage and creativity). My brother was in my corner, in the most tangible way. Always.

Anyway, at the time, he wasn’t well and was clearing out the farmhouse, trying to lessen the load for his children and wife. My brother, sister and I shared a love of history, and a belief in the significance of ancestral stories to the present. It was in one of those conversations, that I realised I wanted to spend more time with old books, and share that with others.

Livre Eclectica was born on Etsy with one (slightly torn) Phantom comic and a 1930s copy of Little Women from our family home. My best friend bought the Phantom comic, so that I had my first sale (thanks Isobelle!), and a book lover from Canada bought Little Women. It was like selling my first novel (did I mention that I’m a writer?) all over again.

Since then it’s been a big, fun learning. How Etsy works, packaging, postal, tax, photography etc. I’ve moved twice since I opened the store, so photography has been a work in progress.

The next step was to give Livre Eclectica a permanent home on the web, which is right here. The Etsy store is still operating and will for a while. If you notice a pricing difference between the two, it’s because postage is included on the Etsy price. Ultimately though, this is where I want to be based.

So welcome! Come in and have a browse. Books are separated into categories. While the store is still small there is no alphabetical listing, but eventually, I anticipate there will be. I only have a few non fiction books, as my passion area is fiction.

I’d love to hear from you if you have an enquiry, or just want to say hello. This is a place for people who love stories, want a fix of nostalgia, and have a curiosity and admiration what has gone before.

But for me, Livre Eclectica will always be about my beloved brother – Paul. RIP.

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Collecting What You Love – my favourite book series

You can probably tell that I like to mainly collect fiction pre-1980. A lot of rare and vintage book collecters prefer non fiction, and make a living from it. But as a novelist, the books I am most attracted to are the books I read or knew about growing up: D H Lawrence, Catherine Gaskin, Angela Brazil, C. S. Lewis and many, many others.

It’s always a thrill to pick up an old novel that has been enjoyed by many people and touched their lives in some way. If you look through the shop’s catalogue, you’ll see a tendency towards collecting certain authors. Some of my favourites are Daphne du Maurier, Georgette Heyer, anything by the Bronte’s, Elyne Mitchell, F Scott Fitzgerald, Louisa Alcott, and Ian Fleming.

Over time, I thought I would show a glimpse into why these authors have a special place in heart, beginning with Elyne Mitchell.

As a teenager, I was horse mad. I was lucky enough to own a few horses and also attend riding school. Never enough to compete, but I did a bit of bush riding. Mitchell’s books about wild brumbies were dramatic, funny, quirky and my first introduction to the romance of the Australian bush. There was also something in the stories that spoke to freedom and closeness to nature. Like very many books they haven’t aged well in terms of the male-female dynamics and role modelling attributed to the horses (also reflecting human behaviour), but that aside, they are still one of my all time favourite series.

We’ve had a couple of Silver Brumby books in the shop and they both sold quite quickly.

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The Most Beautiful Alice in Wonderlands

Alice is always a favourite for collectors. Below are some of the editions we’ve had or have. I get some interesting queries about these. Generally they relate to the illustrations. Collectors become quite specific about the artist and the kind of drawings. For instance, they might ask to see a particular edition’s illustration of when Alice’s neck elongates.

Though it’s not necessarily my most beloved book to read, I can’t help but feel drawn towards collecting Alice as well. When one of our edition’s sell, I always have mixed feelings, happy for someone to buy it, but sad to see it go. The edition immediately below is one of my most favourites. The illustrations are particularly magnificent. My other favourite was the edition with Charles Blackman’s illustrations. We had a copy of that in the store last year, but it sold fairly quickly. I collected my first Alice at the age of about ten years old and I still have it.

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Vintage Crime Treasure – Was it Montelli? by Leslie Cargill

This book is part of a series of classic crime novels by British author and journalist Leslie Cargill. This particular story is a romantic thriller with a gorgeous cover that’s in good condition for its age. You can read Cargill’s biography, straight from one of his grandchildren, on the Classic Crime Fiction page.

If you’re a vintage crime buff, this is highly collectible because it comes with (1947) dust jacket in tact. So far, I have not been able to find another one anywhere else online.

The jacket blurb goes like this:

Jerry Clitheroe – British – bears a strong resemblance to Tony Montelli – a notorious American racketeer.Warned the Montelli is crossing the Atlantic, the British police arrest Clitheroe by mistake. Even Montelli’s wife, who has a reputation of her own in the criminal world, is momentarily deceived. This has embarassing repercussions for Clitheroe who is in love with Elise Dallas.

A more menacing development is the arrival of Dago Manuel, who, having been double-crossed by Montellie in new York, has sworn vengeance. Sujperintendent C;ewthers takes a hand in the tangled situation and tries to make ingenious use of the resemblance.

How could you resist a case of mistaken identity!

Last year, I sold another great crime classic from an Australian author with an equally captivating cover, to a customer in the US. He was delighted with it.

Let us know which cover grabs you the most! Having recently been in Honolulu, we’re finding it a tight contest.

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Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott – what date was this published?

Occasionally, it can be hard to find information about a particular vintage edition of a book. Especially, if the author is popular and there have been many reprints.

In this instance, we were attracted to the very 1940’s cover of this edition of Jo’s Boys, but dating and pricing it has proved to be difficult. It seems to have been produced by Scottish publisher Oliphants Ltd as a Unicorn Classic. Oliphants was bought out by Marshall, Morgan & Scott Ltd in 1945 and liquidated voluntarily and without debts on 27 March 1968.

Oliphants Ltd published mainly religious books, and I have found copies of Little Men and Good Wives online by them, but again, no date. It would be safe to assume the other books in the series came out around the same time, and our best estimation is 1940-60.

We’d love to hear from you if you can cast any further light on the publication date.