Bookseller Profile

Abebooks' uniqueness is our network of independent booksellers who work with us to provide the most diverse selection of rare, used and out-of-print books on the Internet. Take a moment and meet our member booksellers from around the globe. It is these sellers, with their experience, commitment and love of the used and out-of-print book business who help all our buyers find that treasure they've been looking for.

Narnia Books

Narnia Books is an internet / mail order bookshop specializing in collectable and scarce books. Our specialisms include children's books, detective fiction, the classic ghost story, historical and naval fiction, exploration and transportation. Owned and operated by husband and wife team David and Joanne Anderson, we have been in business for half a dozen years, and for the last couple of years on the internet.

Joanne is a transplanted Torontonian and has travelled extensively in Europe, spending several months with her many relatives in Germany. David emigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland about ten years ago -- for the specific purpose of marrying Joanne! He brought with him a dozen crates of his belongings, at least six of which consisted entirely of books. So it was a natural progression for these two book-lovers to become bookdealers.

Joanne handles the administrative and financial aspects of the business, as well as typing all our book listings into HomeBase2. David buys the stock, writes the descriptions, prices the books, and wraps them for shipping. Both share the daily chore of responding to emails and printing up orders. Our darling five-year old son Brendan is "bookdealer in training" and already knows a lot about 'Thomas the Tank Engine' books!

One of the best aspects of being a small internet book business is that you can choose to sell whatever interests you. Over the years our interests have gradually changed and evolved, and thus our specialisms have also. For example, we now sell an increasing amount of boys' and girls' adventure and school fiction by authors such as Percy F. Westerman and Angela Brazil.

Our major sub-specialty is now the books of the famous children's author Captain W.E. Johns and we invariably have over a hundred of his books in stock. With a name like 'Narnia Books' you can guess that we stock C.S. Lewis, as well as his fellow 'Inkling', J.R.R. Tolkien. We also carry collectable copies of classic supernatural fiction, including the limited editions of local British Columbia small publisher the Ash-Tree Press.

Our personal reading and collecting interests reflect what we stock in our business. Joanne enjoys reading mystery fiction and her favourite authors include Robert Goddard, L.R. Wright and Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine. She also enjoys taking long walks in Vancouver's Van Dusen Gardens, one of the finest botanical gardens in Canada, and is an accomplished pianist.

David relaxes with older detective fiction such as Edgar Wallace and R. Austin Freeman, and Lost Race novels such as 'The Lost Continent' by Cutcliffe Hyne. He collects the books of Captain W.E. Johns and the copy of 'Biggles and The Deep Blue Sea' pictured here comes from his collection. David's other hobbies include internet news groups, in particular the 'Biggles' group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biggles

AG Group
Both David and Joanne serve on the ABE Advisory Group, which consists of a small number of bookdealers who advise ABE on policy and programs. "We're privileged to have this direct input and to be able to advise ABE from a bookdealer's point of view. We think that ABE is the best database available and the most responsive to dealers' concerns. Through the Advisory Group changes are being made that are in the best interests of both ABE and its bookdealers", says David.

He believes that a good bookdealer has a sponge-like mind, always absorbing small details which eventually add up to a mountain of specialist knowledge. To him, that's what makes bookdealing in collectable books a profession rather than just an occupation.

However, it is also very pleasant to sell books which, as well as the financial reward, puts nice books into the hands of appreciative collectors. One thing that always brightens our day is when we receive an email to the effect: "Book has arrived and I am delighted with it. Thank you." That is what professional bookdealing is all about!

- David & Joanne, Narnia Books

The views of the author, expressed above, are not necessarily those of the Advanced Book Exchange