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London bookshops: to the left

London bookshops RIP: Fisher and Sperr

The high street is becoming increasingly dull, the same old chains taking up every available space with remarkable regularity. Fisher and Sperr on Highgate Hill was an old-fashioned antiquarian bookshop that evaded the norms of 21st century retail practice.

As you entered the shop, a bell would ring like the buler announcing you to the owner of some venerable country pile. There was a rather imperious older man typing diligently on a manual typewriter who seemed to be unsure whether you were welcome in the shop. Whilst the customer service may have left something to be desired, the expertise was never in doubt and the selection of ageing tomes was very impressive.

Now the the shop has closed with a peice of corrugated iron across the door and a dusty curtain forlornly draped over the bulk of the front window. I imagine another coffee shop will soon open on the site. Hey ho!

RIP London's left-wing bookshops: Collets and Central Books

The disappearance of the great left wing bookshops of London is a genuine loss. Two of my favourites were Collets in Charing Cross Road and Central Books in Grays Inn Road. Collets had different bookshops for general publications, international publications and Chinese issues, and also ran a record shop, which was an early repository of world music.

London bookshops RIP: Collets - tatty and esoteric

My memory of Collets is of a labyrinthine set of establishments all on the Charing Cross Road, decorated in sombre colours, selling esoteric Communist publications, Marx's works and Soviet badges and posters. The shops exuded an air of tatty studiousness. Collets bookshops closed down in dribs and drabs, not helped by the demise of the Soviet Union and, if I rememember correctly, a fire, and had gone by the early nineties.

Both Collets and Central Books had explicit links to the Communist Party. Eva Collet was a friend of both the Marx and Engles family and was politically sympathetic.

London bookshops RIP: Central Books

Central Books used to be the Workers' Bookshop and was the official bookshop of the CP. It was an attractive shop with a wide and fascinating selection of books, covering all aspects of left wing thought and literature. Central closed down in 1993.

In both bookshops you could easily discuss both books and ideas with the staff. Neither could withstand the end of the Communist Party, rising property costs and the new global booksellers, and a major London resource was lost.

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Message:	12/12
Date and time:	05/07/2011 at 09:21:28
Sender:	allan

Hello Susie - My best regards to your mum. I was at Bumpus in the early 50s, so I'm afraid we would not have had any mutual aquaintances. I did not even work in the shop. I was a lowly book collector, trotting around to publishers to collect books ordered by customers and not in stock. My boss was an ex-navy man who used to send me to the chemist to collect his piles ointment.... most embarrassing for as young lad... If you Google Bumpus you will find ancient photos of the shop which I'm sure your mum would appreciate.... Thanks for your reply and agtain, all the best to your mum, Alklan.

Message:	11/12
Date and time:	24/06/2011 at 10:05:23
Sender:	Susie

To Allan My Mother is 95 years old and used to work at Bumpus bookshop in the thirties. She was wondering if anyone remembered it and has lots of stories about the staff and illustrious customers. My Father was also trained there ( which is where he met my Mother ) and went on to run a bookshop in Hull. She would love to hear from you ( through me, as she is not on line) and compare stories and memories.

Message:	10/12
Date and time:	24/05/2011 at 22:13:28
Sender:	Harry

I was MD of Collets after the fire and when it lost contracts with what was the Soviet Union. It was an institution as much as a business. It's demise when inevitable I suppose in a world where nearly all books shops look the same with a bland range of celebrity titles. It is ironic that I sold one shop to Waterstones and now that company has been bought by a Russian capitalist. For a good bookshop visit Daunts in Maryleborne High Street. It's in the old tradition of book shops. A place to linger and enjoy.

Message:	9/12
Date and time:	18/04/2011 at 11:56:45
Sender:	allan

Does no one remember Bumpus bookshop in Oxford Street? It was huge and carried an enormous stock. If they didn't have the book you wanted they could get it by next day. That's where I came in. I was a Bumpus book collector, hurrying around the streets with a big bag, collecting books from publishers publishers. It was hard work but great fun, especially if you l;iked books. I remember stopping at Joe Lyons teashop for a crafty break, being careful not to mark the books with greasy fingers from my buttered teacake.... Any other old book collectors out there?

Message:	8/12
Date and time:	28/01/2011 at 23:16:39
Sender:	London-RIP

We agree Conny - this is a really personal one for us. It's left a big hole in the high st.

Message:	7/12
Date and time:	28/01/2011 at 23:15:43
Sender:	Conny

Prospero's Books, Crouch End RIP as from Christmas Eve 2010...Very sorry to see this bookshop go. Staff were knowledgeable and helpful.

Message:	6/12
Date and time:	03/06/2010 at 10:46:55
Sender:	josiane vanmol

I am a buttoncollector, and looking to buy secondhands books about buttons. please can you help me. looking forard to your answer, josie.

Message:	5/12
Date and time:	19/10/2009 at 19:05:42
Sender:	Peter

I can remember Colletes had a small branch only for Penguine Books. One could find any title. I can remember there were also a Soviet Publisher: Progress Publisher, had all lefts translated into the English in form of collected works one could get from Collets

Message:	4/12
Date and time:	26/09/2009 at 13:58:21
Sender:	Jon-A

I remember Collet's having a New Oxford St. location circa 1972, with a great jazz record shop in the basement. Is that accurate or has my memory transposed the Charing Cross store?

Message:	3/12
Date and time:	02/01/2009 at 11:06:48
Sender:	Annalisa

Hi Carol and the staff at Collets, if you're out there. Those were awesome times. It would be grand to hear from you. With love from down under.