York National Book Fair (September 20 and 21) has more than 100,000 books on its shelves at the racecourse, ranging from 500-year-old antiques to recently-published novels.
Here are six picks which show the amazing range and diversity of the books on offer this year.
For the horror fan
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Date: 1901 Price: £4,250
Seller: J & M Books, Liverpool
Abridged by Bram Stoker himself, this paperback of the Gothic classic could not be more fashionable in our Twilight times. It also has one of the earliest depictions of Dracula on the front.
For the art lover
Andy Warhol by Kasper König et al
Date: 1968 Price: £800
Seller: Lucius Books, York
A first edition catalogue for the pop artist’s first major European retrospective. Includes 600 black and white pictures of Warhol’s work.
For the Yorkie
The Cries Of York by J Kendrew
Date: 1830 Price: £200
Seller: David Miles Books, Canterbury
Or to give it its full title, The Cries Of York, For The Amusement Of Young Children. Try swapping this for their Nintendo DS, see how amused they are then… Includes 26 illustrations of criers.
For the romantic
Jane Austen: The Novels
Date: 1856 Price: £3,750
Seller: Andrew Cox, Telford
Not only are you getting some of the best novels written in English, they are bound in leather by the most celebrated Victorian bookbinders, Ramage of London.
For the kids
Chuckles from a Cheery Corner by Noah Little
Date: 1887 Price: £45
Seller: Peter Moore, Cambridge
Is there any part of your life which would not be improved by humorous Scotch readings? Prose and poetry from those celebrated cheery types north of the border.
For the petrol head
Twentysix Gasoline Stations by Edward Ruscha
Date: 1963 Price: £8,750
Seller: Lucius Books, York
The first book, one of only 400 in its series, by renowned US artist Edward Ruscha. He travelled Route 66, capturing the gas stations from Los Angeles to Texas.
- York National Book Fair is at York Racecourse on Friday, September 20 from noon to 7pm and Saturday, September 21 from 10am to 5pm
- Full details on the book fair website
- See also York Book Fair: why it’s Britain’s biggest