I say bookshops, because although they have a website stating Stella and Rose’s Books, Stella is at one location, and Rose another. Both stores are open 7 days a week, and look to be at lovely locations within the British Isles, Tintern and Hay-on-Wye.
I bought several of my sought after versions of Alice in Wonderland from them,
and the experience was great. Helpful, friendly, and they sure know their stuff.
As a matter of fact, this is seen at the bottom of their home page: *** Winner Small Business Award for Outstanding Customer Service ***
Their site is chock full of books, and they’ve a good search engine–it not only allows you to search via author, but also illustrator, which makes it much easier for people like myself to find things because I’m looking for specific illustrators, sometimes of the same title.
Their specialty is vintage illustrated and children’s books, but stock plenty of other subjects as well. Their price range has something in it for everyone.
I took my favorite children’s book illustrator, Anne Anderson, as an example of the nice range of prices.
The Pasty Book costs 180.00 Pounds–which is a million dollars in the states now that our money isn’t worth the ink–slight exaggeration–I usually double the UK cost–so–ugh, no one told me I’d have to do math–uh, 360 bucks?
Their detailed listing: *THE PATSY BOOK
Anderson, Anne. Illustrated by Anderson, Anne. Stock no. 594936
Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd. 1st ed . 1919. Almost very good condition with no wrapper. Being the Adventures of Patsy, Patty and Pat. Large format. Light brown cloth spine. Colour pictorial front board. 13 beautiful colour plates plus numerous b/w illustrations. Spine and corners are bumped and worn. Chipping to cover edges. A few grubby marks to covers. Browning to endpapers and a few pages internally. Foxing to outer page edges and some pages inside book. Margin creases and a few small edge-tears to a few plates, some of which have been remounted. Vertical crease to middle of ‘Tug of War’ plate.
Price: £180.00*
The Nursery Rhymes are either 24.00 pounds, or 8.50 pounds–depending on the condition and/or printing of either book. I can afford the 17.00 dollar book–but with shipping, it will cost a whole lot more, the only downside of ordering from the UK.
Their 8.50 pound listing: *NURSERY RHYMES
No author listed. Illustrated by Anderson, Anne. Stock no. 696506
Nelson. Good condition with no wrapper. Red cloth spine. Yellow pictoral covers. Colour illustrations. A board book. Corners worn.
Price: £8.50
And just for an extra special treat–they have an uncommon book illustrated by the famous artist, Arthur Rackham, Where the Blue Begins. I tried reading a copy without Rackham’s pictures, and I was confused–look at those weird people–I believe they are supposed to be dogs–but don’t quote me!
Check out their website and see if you are like me, and think it’s worth a little postage cost to purchase a coveted title .
I love Rackham’s illustrations!