Busy week this week. I have spent 3 days at Aylsham book buying at the auction. It's a long time since I have been to this particulat auction, and know it to be a good one, but what with so much to do - buying, selling, cataloguing, booksearching, living!, decorating, dogwalking, book fairs, etc etc, I just hadnt got round to it, but when a friend organised me to go - just what I needed, along I trotted - and instantly remembered just what it was I loved about auction rooms. Not only is it all the lolvey books - and oh, I could spend, spend, spend, but its the sense of anticipation - not so much the ovbious - what is listed on the catalogue - obviously there is the anticipation with that - ''will what I have spotted in the catalogue be in the condition I hoped it will be in - and will I be able to get it at an affordable price - how many others will have spotted it' type questions race through your mind - but also the fun of rummaging though boxes to see what it in there, what little treasures you might spot and again wondering who else will spot them too.
Aylsham auctions are well known auctions in the book world and people travel far & wide to go there, so you know that many people will have been to view the books. Lots of bids are left as Commission bids, and many others are telephoned through on the day, but as I hadn't been for such a long time I wanted to attend the viewing and both days as a bit of a treat to myself. It has certainly changed quite a bit since I was last there - which now I think about it, is probably between 10 and 15 years! Time flies. It is much more orgainised now with lovely comfy chairs, and on day 1 we had to sit down, much to my surprise, whilst the bidding was on. There was a nice friendly atmosphere and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and intend to have it on my calendar as a regular event - if my bank balance can stand it! Much more stock will be listed soon.
