I received an email today from Abe Books, in response to a query I had left on their site a long while ago about a book I remember vividly as a much-loved favourite from my very early childhood, but which has long been out of print. Imagine my excitement when I read the subject line "Abe books has found the book you want". But I was soon to have my expectations crushed. Here's the email text:
"We have matched your Want with one or more books now available on our Web site, including the following (please note that only the lowest and highest price matches made today are displayed):
1. Mr. Fork and Curly Fork: a time story,
Banner, Angela
Edmund Ward Ltd, 1956, Hardcover, , FICTION:: CHILDRENS FICTION READING LESSONS LITERACY ANGELA BANNER PRIMERS, Clean hardback tightly bound in blue cloth with red titles, cloth has minor rubbing at corners, no inscriptions. 88 pages, colour illustrations throughout. Uncommon book by the 'Ant and Bee' author. 100
Bookseller: Aucott & Thomas, a member of IBooknet, Hugglescote, LEI
Price: £ 77.00"
That's nearly £1 per page.
Have you checked whether it's in the BL catalog, though? Sometimes they really do have the most unexpected stuff--you could pop in and read it on your lunch hour!
Posted by: Jenny Davidson | 08 December 2007 at 12:58
The book is about three inches wide by two inches tall - so yes, lunch hour reading-- but I was rather wanting it as a keepsake to remember my young days and to show my own children. Sigh ;-)
Posted by: Maxine | 31 December 2007 at 17:00