When I first started selling books nearly 15 years ago, I went to an auction with the intention of
buying a small lot which included a nice
copy of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway.
If you’ve never been to an auction, let me tell you, they go on
FOREVER. Being a bit of a rookie, I got bored and went out
for a coffee – but I misjudged my timing
and came back in as my lot was going through.
A bit ruffled I joined in the
bidding, and as the hammer went down the
auctioneer said ‘Madam I am glad he found a good home’ (Auctioneers in the
Home Counties honestly do still call women Madam). Confused I went to the desk and found out
that I had actually bought a lovely old teddy bear and not a small collection
of books. It transpired that my Virginia Woolf book had
actually been stolen from the auction, and the lot had been withdrawn. The teddy though I still have, and he has
happily lived with us as our mascot ever since – his name – YesterBear – cute huh?
