This Month - Cecil Aldin - contributed by Sonia

Cecil Aldin became a household name known for his paintings in the late 1800's. He produced a diversity of dog portraits and sporting scenes for which he had a steady flow of admirers. Less well known are his posters, chalk drawings of inns , manor houses, and cathedrals, superb equestrian pastels and pencil & wash sketches of the countryside.

Born on 28th April 1870 in Slough, son of Charles Aldin, a builder, and his wife, Sarah. He was a wiry red-haired boy who started sketching by 6 years of age. His early drawings had a recurring theme of a rider being thrown from a horse, expressing his developing sense of humour. Read More

Featured Book - A Picturesque Tour of the English Lakes contributed by Cliff

A book with this title could have been written at any time from the late 1700s to the present day. Before the end of the eighteenth century someone visiting the English Lake District would have been considered an Explorer, an explorer of a barren, impassable land of no use or interest, but by the end of the eighteenth century the visitor was now a Tourist.

So when was our book written? Picturesque has an "Olde Worlde" ring to it and indeed it was in 1821 that Ackermann published "A Picturesque Tour of The English Lakes Containing a Description of the Most Romantic Scenery of Cumberland, Westmoreland (sic) and Lancashire with Accounts of Antient (sic) and Modern Manners and Customs and Elucidation of the History and Antiquities of the Part of the Country Etc".Read More

A Sample of New Stock

Duncton Tales by William Horwood

Flying the Andes by William A. Krusen

The English Gypsy Caravan by C.H. Ward-Jackson and Denis E. Harvey

Price: £18.50

Other Books on Moles

Price: £25

Other Aviation Books

Price: £46

Other Gypsy Books

Price: £10

Other Rugby Books

Selection from our Special Book Room

Tom Puss Tales by Martin Toonder

L'Art de la Porcelaine by M. Le Cornte De Milly

The Book of South Wales, the Wye and the Coast by Mr. & Mrs. S.C. Hall

Uncle by J.P. Martin Illustrated by Quentin Blake

16 colour plates plus two-tone illustrations. Uncommon in original wrapper.

Price: £145

1st ed1771 A study by the author of how the Germans made porcelain in the late 18th century. 8 copper engravings, some of which fold out.

Price: £200

1st ed 1861 Purple cloth with elaborate gilt decorations and gilt titles. Numerous b/w illustrations. All edges gilt. Faded spine but still a truly handsome and bright copy.
Price: £150

1st ed1964 B/w text illustrations. An early rare example of Quentin Blake's work.

Price: £160

News in Brief

Amongst the books catalogued this month we have collections of Chalet School, Monmouthshire, Observer's books and much more.

On the 20th October we enjoyed our 1st visit to the W.E. Johns Appreciation Day. Read all about it on our NEW website at www.bigglesbooks.com

The 8th Hay winter festival weekend is to be held on 30th Nov to 2nd Dec. Click here to see the program. If you are planning to visit Hay-on-Wye on Sat Dec 1st make sure you visit Rose's Books for your 10% discount on all purchases during the town's happy hour 7pm to 8pm.

Last posting dates for Christmas 2007
UK 1st Class - 20th December
Western Europe Airmail - 13th December
Rest of World Airmail - 7th December

For further news please click here