‘Antiquarian bookselling has a rather fusty image, and there is good reason for that. One look around the average bookfair will reveal an awful lot of tweed, and I am not afraid to admit that I too possess a brown jacket with elbow patches. But underneath those old clothes pulse hundreds of passionate hearts in thrall to the next leather-bound thrill.’
Many of you may already know the origins of the name ‘Slightly Foxed’ but we still get the occasional curious reader who seems, well, slightly foxed by it. In the very first issue of the quarterly editor Hazel Wood explains that ‘as well as describing the average person’s state of mind while scanning the shelves of the chain bookshops for something to read, it is also an antiquarian bookseller’s term for a volume whose pages time has discoloured with brown spots.’ We think that this reflects what Slightly Foxed is all about: the importance of good writing, regardless of age, popularity or any metaphorical ‘foxing’.
But what about physical foxing? We are big supporters of the old and rare book trade having featured a podcast episode and various articles about the wonderfully eccentric world it occupies. Today we thought we would share one of those articles with you.
We are also excited to let you know about a special offer with BIBLIO, the world’s largest independent marketplace for second-hand, rare, and antiquarian books. Plesae scroll to the bottom of this email to find out more.
With thanks and best wishes from the SF office staff
Isabel, Rebecca, Edie, Ruth & Jennie
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