For those that are completists it can be quite difficult with subtle differences such as for GP27 ‘A Book of Wit and Humour’ where the covers appear almost identical but one has a different font and one is a slightly different colour. They also have different lists of other PAN titles in the back.
I’ve heard from Lesley and Sam, Tom Stimpson’s sister and son, to say they are arranging an exhibition of Tom’s work this summer. I know June 14th seems a long way off but it will be on us before we know it. Tom would have been 70 on the 14th June 2025 hence the choice of date. It is being held in Westbury, Wiltshire, a place that may sound familiar to many collectors as the home of Maurice Flanagan of Zardoz Books so if you are visiting make sure you leave enough time to include a visit to his £1.00 shop as well. I’ll post more details a I get them.
As a belated birthday treat I found a coach trip for a long weekend in March where you stayed in Northumberland. It was just what I wanted as they picked you up at your door, took you to a hotel in Alnwick via a stop in Ripon and then a couple of trips out to the coast plus free time in Alnwick which would have meant a visit to Barter Books for me. I’ve not been there before and was looking forward to it, having read mixed reviews, but I’ve just had an email to say due to insufficient numbers it has been cancelled. I should have suspected something when they asked where I would like a seat on the coach and was told I could chose almost anywhere. This had now prompted me to plan a trip of my own including visits to friends and relatives up north I’ve not seen for years and hopefully visits to other secondhand bookshops!
I was sorry to hear of the passing of artist Chris Moore on the 7th February, more next week.