Regular visitors to Travel Between The Pages may know that I have been a bookseller for most of the 21st century and an avid book collector for many decades. Like many booksellers, I sometimes have pangs of regret over books that I have sold that I would have happily kept in my personal library. While perusing book blogs this past weekend, I chanced on a copy of Constantinople by Alexander Van Millingen, illustrated by Warwick Goble, published by A & C Black, London, 1906.
For many years, I had a book customer who was only interested in edtions solely devoted to the city of Constantinople. Since the city’s name officially changed to Istanbul in 1930, that meant he would only buy books printed before 1929. After I sold him a number of 19th and early 20th century travel guides, I managed to find a very good copy of the A & C Black Constantinople. The only problem was that I wanted it for my own collection. But since he was an excellent customer, I gave in and sold the book. Looking at this beautiful example online I think that I may have made the wrong decision.
Travel Between The Pages 
How beautiful are these illustrations, Brian! But I have a good friend whose book collecting husband died last year. Sorting and selling his collection is a small nightmare for her and a very wearying task. So, perhaps….
That’s a good thought Jo!
Gorgeous!
A man has to live. A petshop keeper may also feel a pang when one of his beloved animals gets sold to a new owner. The most you can do is to make sure that it lands into the right custody. A reprint of above mentioned book can be obtained for $ 23 on Tertulia. In the US it is considered public domain, but they mention that as a reproduction it may contain blurred images.