This collection argues that literary treasures should stay in the country and be cared for by both private collectors and public institutions. It explores the duties collectors feel toward posterity and the impact of auctions, rarity, and taste on our national memory.

The essays survey how collectors, libraries, and educators shape access to classic English literature. They discuss the role of binding, provenance, and early editions, and they critique trends that threaten the integrity of old books. The author advocates thoughtful, informed collecting as a civic responsibility and a source of cultural wealth.

Why preserving original editions and bindings matters to literary history
How private collecting can fuel public access and scholarship
The balance between desire for rare items and fair, responsible dealing
The influence of education and libraries on taste and reading choices

Ideal for readers of bibliophilia, literary history, and essays on culture, conservation, and education.

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We first started out as ?The Paperback Exchange,? a chain of physical bookstores where we would part exchange your beloved books for new stories to transport you to faraway places. However, as shopping started to evolve to online shops and marketplaces, we bid our stores goodbye to become ?PBShop.? This transition has only allowed us to blossom as we now ship thousands of titles to book lovers across the globe. We pride ourselves in being a community of local book lovers which allows our passion and devotion to shine in everything we do. In 2020 we not only celebrated our 20th birthday but our 1st birthday as being completely employee owned after becoming an E.O.T in September 2019. We are proud to be different and embrace standing apart on a book mountain by working from a virtual inventory which allows us to provide thousands of books that may be difficult to get for your bookshelf or your studies. Working with a number of different suppliers allows us to explore other avenues such as puzzles, sheet music and even stationery so we really do have something for everyone. Life is about being versatile in all realms of existence. If this is your first visit or you are a returning customer, we would like to welcome you to the PBShop family, for there is no friend as loyal as a book. We are a company who put our customers at the centre of everything we do as we understand the importance of reading because once you learn to read, you will forever be free. There are a whole lot of things in this world of ours that we are yet to explore, which is why we will forever inspire curious minds.

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