Foreword by Geoffrey Blainey
Folio, Sydney, 2011

• Beautiful and valuable books, arcane terms and conventions, eccentric personalities – these are the mainstays of the fascinating world of antiquarian books.
• Rare chronicles the social history of the book trade in the second half of the twentieth century – when antiquarian bookselling emerged as a recognisable profession.
• Stuart Kells has written a thoroughly compelling book which paints an unforgettable picture of the principal figures in Kay and Muriel’s circle, and which also explores how these identities influenced the supply of and demand for old, rare, finely printed and finely bound books.
• Rare gives the reader access to a world that few have entered. It is also a highly personal account of the challenging journey of two Australian women.

  “The author Stuart Kells is observant and quietly witty. His book is captivating, partly because it discusses other booksellers and their prizes and eccentricities.” Geoffrey Blainey Foreword, December 2010

  “I have just spent some of the most wonderful hours of reading I have ever experienced, reading Rare. I felt I was being welcomed into the inner sanctum of antiquarian bookselling knowledge and tradition. It is so interesting and so informative. It flows seamlessly and presents such a finely balanced work of the personal and professional.” Mary Dalmau, February 2011

  “Rare tome is spellbinding
  COLLINS ST has few real landmarks now, but one business that endures is Craddock’s antiquarian bookseller business at No.156.Kay Craddock and her mother Muriel, now “semi-retired” at 98, have been in the wonderful world of old books since 1965 and their expertise is sought by bibliophiles from around the world.
  It’s a rare business — and Rare is the title of a new book by Stuart Kells about the Craddock family and the history of the firm.” In Black & White with John Hamilton Herald Sun, 6 Feb 2011

  “[Rare] is much more than Kay and Muriel’s story. It’s a history of the Australian antiquarian book trade in the second half of the 20th century, and particularly illuminating on the early history of ANZAAB and its founding fathers and mothers…The book also includes a number of fascinating vignettes of collectors…and will be a major work on the Australian antiquarian scene for a long time to come.” Charles Stitz, editor of Australian Book Collectors, February 2011

Muriel Craddock 1930s	Les and Muriel Craddock’s Wedding 1939	Muriel, Pat, Kay, Julie 1950s
Kay at the State Archery Championships 1962	Kay and Muriel Craddock Book Fair 1976	Kay Craddock The Age 1978
Kay and Muriel Craddock The Herald 1985	Muriel Craddock 1997	The Assembly Hall Building 156 Collins Street 2010

Purchase Rare from kaycraddock.com
Copies also available from other fine booksellers.

RARE RELATED EVENTS

Reader’s Feast Bookstore
Kay Craddock & Stuart Kells
In conversation with Mary Dalmau
Click here for more information
Thursday 10th March 2011
6.15pm for 6.30pm
Reader’s Feast Bookstore
Corner Bourke and Swanston, Melbourne
$6.00 payable at the door
Please book as numbers are strictly limited
Reservations: (03) 9662 4699

Other Articles

Kay and Muriel Craddock, The Age, 2009

Kay Craddock-Antiquarian Bookseller on Facebook

visit www.kaycraddock.com
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