Bibliomaniacs Silent Auction Catalogue: The End of an Era

This week the Bibliomaniacs have released what may be their most ambitious catalogue yet, with all items being for sale by silent auction.

The youngest antiquarian booksellers in the world have pledged to donate a fifth of all winning auctions to  Helen & Douglas House, the children's hospice in Oxford.

The auction details are live on the Bibliomaniacs website and will run until the evening of Tuesday 6th July. Full rules are clearly set out on their website.

If you are nearby, there will be an opportunity to view all the lots in the sale and purchase some other items at an appropriately socially distanced and number-managed event ("enforced" by Bertie our "Enforcer") on Sunday 4th July between 6.30 and  8.30pm in the Square or Entrance Hall at Papplewick. Please RSVP to Rupert at cunnirup@papplewick.org.uk if you would like to attend.

Amongst the collection are:

• Eight original Illustrations by Picford Robert Waller (Lot 3), Estimate £80 - £120
• Les Modes. Paris: Manzi, Joyant & Cie, 1901—1919, 345 x 278mm, coloured covers and plates, 178 issues bound in six-teen volumes, uniform calf-backed boards, all have been slightly cropped when bound, bindings worn. (Lot 6) Estimate: £800 - £1200
• 40 works by P.G. Wodehouse, Everyman Library 2002-2005, first editions in dust jackets illustrated by Andrzej Klimowski. (Lot 9) Estimate £200 - £300

The catalogue also features some lovely memories shared by some of the Year 8 leavers:

"Bibliomaniacs, known to most of us as “The Bibs” has had its ups, just ups, well maybe except when I didn’t get my dessert at the PBFA, but that’s OK. I joined in Year 6. I don’t really remember why I did, but clear-ly it was a great choice because I’ve had my laughs in the club. I joined thinking that it would be just sitting there and listening to Mr Cooper talk about random books, though I soon realised that there was more to Bibs than I had heard about. In Year 6, I was lucky enough along with many others to go to the PBFA in London, which was not only a great learning experience but also had delicious food.
In Year 7 it was another great year, a lot more “normal” than what we have now. There was one occasion that I particularly remember,and that was when I was late to the weekly Bibs, someone managed to conjure up the idea that I had died from food poi-soning, that was great. Later that year we had to go online which wasn’t as fun but was still interesting. The greatest moment was when we were split into groups to guess prices of some books and my group guessed the £3 million to be a £300 book. Before that, I was delighted when I pronounced a part of the sen-ior committee, one of my favourite moments in my time at Bibs.
In Year 8, known to myself as the year that I had to sit at home and gain weight, Bibliomaniacs on the other hand was a plus, making a catalogue and succeeding in selling most of the books that I catalogued made me proud. My time as a Bib has 100% been not only fun, exciting and interesting but has also taught me things about business and books, I guess that is what a Bibliomaniac does isn’t it?" - Andrew Zhang

"I first heard about the Bibliomaniacs through a friend. When I started, I understood almost nothing about what went on within this society of geezers looking at old leather-bound vellum tomes. After the first term, I under-stood enough to do a lot, and I was typing peoples’ notes into a document which would later be inserted into the finished catalogue by la grande fromage. Then, just as I was gaining a better understanding of Bibs, the funniest thing happened: we were all sent home for the summer, to learn from home. Thankfully it calmed down enough that we could come back for the start of Year 8. I was admitted to the senior committee as website manager, and since have set up an online silent auction on the website. Some of the fondest memories I will carry from Papplewick are from the Bibs, and I know that when I am old and grey, I will look back on my short time here fondly." - Robert Huxley

"I joined the Bibs before I was supposed to. I was only eight. You see, at the time the youngest people allowed to join were year Fives, but I was in Year Four. It was not a problem though as I was treated as any other and was soon taught how to catalogue and do everything needed to be a functioning member of the Bibliomaniacs. I was told I had a talent for guessing the price of books. By Year Five I had gone on many trips with the Bibs to various places: for example the College Library at Eton [in fact Rupert went on his first trip to Eton in Year 4 JDC]. This was also the year I first went to the London International Book Fair organised by the PBFA, where I learnt a lot about many different things you cannot learn in a class room: for example how to deal with money and difficult customers.
By Year Six I was made part of the Senior Committee where I was given the job of the Archivist. To be honest, I was abysmal at that, so by the time Year Seven came my job was changed to Stock Holder. Unfortunately, I was no better at that but Mr Cooper kept faith in me. Sadly, Year Seven summer term was torn up by the Corona Virus crisis raging: meaning there was no PBFA Fair and Bibliomaniacs was online.
As I started year 8, I was given the job of Head Bib which thankfully I was better at. But Year 8 was no better in regards to Corona Virus meaning no PBFA: but thankfully we can go to school and sell books in person at Summer Soiree and through this auction catalogue.
Bibliomaniacs means a lot to me. It shows that at Papplewick people are accept-ing and it gave me my first taste of real responsibility, which was especially useful. It taught me not just about books but about running a business and teamwork. I hope that the new generation keep Bibs going." - Rupert Cunningham-Day

You can view the full catalogue here >