Reading that old smell: This social media book handle helps you stock up on collector’s titles

A spread from The Beatles - Life in Pictures

Coffee, mushrooms and moss - those are the smells we think of when recalling a second-hand bookshop. We are talking about times before the term "pre-loved" was in vogue. These shops housed secrets. Sometimes, an old membership card, a receipt, a book mark or an inscription would peer out at us. Often forewords that were new to later editions of the title, would fondly greet the reader. And those were the add-ons; over and above the joy of finding quaint books from the past.

If Cats could Talk - The Meaning of Meow

We recently spotted a platform called Dull Gold that preserves bits of that tactile experience. The platform prides itself on sourcing hard-to-find treasured titles. They list out book details - publication date, number of pages, bind, condition and cost - along with detailed pictures. If you have an eye for that lustre in dull gold, you'd regret seeing the words ‘sold out' on a copy you desired. From The Colour Encyclopedia of Incredible Aeroplanes, If Cats could Talk - The Meaning of Meow by Michael P Fertig, All-in-One Camera Book by WD Emanuel to Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles and The Beatles - Life in Pictures - they have the whole gamut of rare finds.

If you are a stickler for vintage, you should hurry!

The Colour Encyclopedia of Incredible Aeroplanes. Pics/Instagram

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