Tag: Rare Books

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We Never Get Tired of Wuthering Heights Editions!

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is one book we always keep in store – a timeless classic that keeps having new life breathed into it with each generation of readers. I particularly enjoy seeing different vintage editions in all their precious glory. Below are some of our current covers. There is always an affordbale, collectible copy of Wuthering Heights within easy reach.

Fun fact: did you know that Emily Bronte cauterised her own wound after being bitten by a rabid dog. She was also an ace rifle shooter.

This above edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte was published by Russell Classics/ P.R Gawthorn in the 1940s. Lovely coloured frontispiece.

This rare Australian edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte was published by Dymocks Book Arcade in 1950.

But if you’re in the mood for a timeless understated look, you can’t go past the Heron Edition. This edition (below) was published by Heron Books in the 1960s and features a lovely inked likeness of Emily on the title page.

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Ordering Books from Livre Eclectica

Dear Customer and Fellow Book Lover,

Has your order been processed?

Our ordering form has one little quirk that can trip people up …

The field labelled Apartment needs to be filled in. So if you don’t live in an apartment, please just place a ‘0’ in the field. Otherwise, the order won’t process.

Please reach out through the contact form if you are having any problems, or visit our Etsy twin site to purchase throgh there.

Thank you for visiting our vintage and rare bookstore! Come again any time!

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Top Book Picks from Brisbane’s Lifeline Bookfest

The Lifeline Bookfest has been one of my key suppliers of books since I started Livre Eclectica. It happens twice a year and runs for a week at the Brisbane Convention Centre. I have lined up early to be among the very first in, and I have also gone on the last few hours of the last day. Either way, it never fails to disappoint me.

This week I have picked up a range of titles that you might like to browse:

I only select books that whisper my name. So, hopefully they might do the same to you! I’ll be loading these into the site over the next week, and will update the hyperlinks above.

Enjoy!

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The Magic of Elizabeth Goudge Books

Elizabeth Goudge wrote fiction and children’s books throughout the 1900s and still has an ardent fan base. Currently, in the store we have hardcover (no dust jacket’s) copies of Island Magic, The Heart of the Family (#3 Eliot books) and The City of Bells (#1 Torminster books).

The Elizabeth Goudge Society has penned a lovely biography that paints a picture of a different time and is a window into the writer’s life and how her upbringing impacted her work.

“Goudge’s books are notably Christian in outlook, covering sacrifice, conversion, discipline, healing, and growth through suffering. Her novels, whether realistic, fantasy or historical, weave in legend and myth and reflect a spirituality and love of England that generate its appeal, whether she wrote for adults or for children.” (Wiki)

I’m about to start with Island Magic, so I’ll get back to you on how I find it. In the mean time, if you’re a fan, I have some nice bargains for you to browse.

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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.