Around Historic Sussex

The quest to find out what happened to Midas Books continues. Not quite up to 'The Da-Vinci Code' perhaps in terms of scope but a puzzle that nevertheless intrigues me. How can there be no trace of a small independent publisher that was in business in the 70s? My brother, who has a 'nose' for such intrigues, has joined the investigation and journeys tomorrow to Rochester in Kent to visit Baggins Book Bazaar, an emporium that might have a link to Midas books.

In the meantime I have tracked down and purchased another Midas Book: "Around Historic Sussex' published in 1976, compiled by Ray Miller and illustrated by Gerald Lip (Dave, note these two new links).

I bought this through the excellent website AbeBooks.co.uk that seems to be able to locate any publication of note. This is another beautiful publication, includes a forward by Dame Vera Lynn, and covers locations from Alciston to Worthing, each entry illustrated with stunning pencil drawings by Gerald Lip. It also includes a leaflet from St. Michael's Church in Amberley that requests a donation of 3p in the Restoration Box! What is 3p worth 38 years on?

I look forward to reading this book on Historic Sussex although I suspect that many of the entries will have been overtaken by continual momentum of modern urban and rural development.

Baggins Book Bazaar

It's a strange name for a book shop. Or is it? Baggins seems to suggest a link to Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist of the Hobbit in the book by J.R. Tolkien. My brother assures me that this book bazaar is indeed still trading and does allegedly contain more than half a million books. I want to establish if there is a link between Baggins Book Bazaar and the author Malcolm John and the publisher Midas Books.

This is apparently the shop front of Baggins Book Bazaar

So, a trip to Rochester in Kent is on the cards. Not the easiest place to get to from Brighton in Sussex. I don't particularly want to drive so this would mean a train from Brighton to London Victoria and then a train from there to Rochester. I am determined to do this. I want to find out more about Malcolm John and what happened to him. He also wrote a book called Rochester and I would love to find a copy of that.

Quaerite et invenietis.....

Around Historic Kent

My brother bought me this delightful book 'Around Historic Kent' for my birthday. It was published in 1978 by Midas books and is written by Malcolm John with superb illustrations by C.A.T.Brigden.

Malcolm John was born near Tunbridge Wells in Kent and attended Gillingham Technical High School before training as a teacher. He taught in various schools in Kent. In 1976 he left teaching to open a small antiquarian book-selling business in Rochester, which became the largest new, secondhand and antiquarian bookshop in private ownership in Kent. Malcolm John built up a world-wide reputation as a dealer of Kentish Topography. So, why then can I find no trace of him or Midas books on Google? This is very curious. No doubt, Midas Books was a small publishing firm in the 70s that has ceased trading, but why no record of it?

Further investigation on the Internet turns up Baggins Book Bazaar, established 1986 and claiming to be 'England's Largest Secondhand and Rare Bookshop'. Location? 19 High Street, Rochester, Kent. Might this be the bookshop founded by Malcolm John?

A testimonial from 1996 says: "It is a bookworm's paradise. More than half-a-million hardbacks and paperbacks line the shelves, covering every topic under the sun. You will probably never have seen so many books under one roof -- there are libraries that are ill-stocked compared with Baggins Book Bazaar in Rochester High Street..." Does Baggins Book Bazaar still exist? Why are there no entries anywhere that I can find about Malcolm John?

I am enthralled by this mystery and I am determined to do more research to try and establish the roots of this bookshop, what happened to Malcolm John (deceased probably?) and Midas Books. In giving me the book 'Around Historic Kent' my brother has unwittingly sent me on a quest to investigate this historical curiosity.

If any of my readers can offer any information concerning any of the above, I would be delighted. Meanwhile I shall don my deerstalker and keep searching...

Soixante-neuf...

I reached this landmark birthday today. Soixante-neuf sounds better than sixty-nine. One short of the 'three-score-and-ten'... Hmmm.

Anyway, I had my usual jaunt around Sainsbury's this morning. The 'Big Issue' seller, Stan, wished me a happy birthday then asked what I was doing shopping on my birthday. I always do the weekly shop on a Friday (well, mostly). Nothing changes there.

I will be enjoying a steak dinner with my wife Rosalind, a bottle of Carta Roja Gran Reserva 2007 (a rich, intense red from Spain) and a couple of Aberlour single malts from Speyside.

Amongst my presents I received from my brother a 2 CD set of Chris Barber & His Jazz Band, recorded in 1956, 1957 and 1958 originally on the Pye label. The sound quality is astonishing and many of these tracks take me back to my youth, particularly 'Petite Fleur'. He also found a book by Malcolm John entitled 'Around Historic Kent' published in 1978 by Midas Books. It's a little gem. Each entry of village, town or other location is accompanied by a beautiful line drawing. Much nostalgia here for me being a 'Man of Kent' (born south of the River Medway - those born to the north are 'Kentish Men').

As I write this I am listening to the wonderful pianist Ivana Gavrić playing 'Grieg Piano Works'. My favourite is the Lyric Piece 'Notturno Op.54 No.4'. And I am awake, daydreaming... Here is a link to this piece played by Mark Farago:

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And now, the sun is below the yardarm, somewhere - time for a birthday beer!