Marginal Notes 29: Burdon Family Booksellers
For some time since starting my series of Marginal Notes I have intended to write about the group known as the Burdon Family Booksellers, of which I am pleased to be a member. The role call includes the late Tom and Barbara Burdon, my husband, Dr Jonathan Burdon AM (who is part of my bookshop), my sisters-in-law Sally Burdon (of Asia Bookroom in Canberra), and Lis Burdon (recently retired from Old Imprints In Portland, Oregon). My sister-in-law Gay Von Ess OAM is one of Asia Bookroom’s assistants and another sister-in-law, Jill Burdon (Canberra), has been a book valuer and one-time editor of Australian Book Auction Records. One of my brothers-in-law Martin Nagle (Sally Burdon’s husband) is also part of our group due to his software program Bookmine, which is an inventory and customer relationship system for bookshops.
As will be appreciated, there are many stories within this story of the Burdon Family Booksellers. The choice of where to start the stories was influenced earlier this month when, during an International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) Congress held in Amsterdam, Sally Burdon was presented with the prestigious ILAB Medal, in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the world of rare books during her years on the ILAB Committee.
Sally’s record of service to the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB), not only as a former president of the Association but also in many other roles, and to ILAB, including as President and General Secretary, is not only impressive but also well above and beyond what could be expected of incumbents. Some part of her journey is best told in her own words, as recorded by Sheila Markham in an interview in June 2024: https://ilab.org/article/change-is-always-around-us-and-we-need-to-be-ready-as-a-trade-to-face-it-together.
On a personal note, I must say how proud I am to be a member by marriage of the inspiring Burdon family. And it is particularly satisfying to acknowledge that Sally and I share the distinction of being not only the first booksellers from the Southern Hemisphere to be appointed President of ILAB, but also to be the first women to hold that position.
