Bookstall Collection

Wymans Bookstall at Paddington Station, 1913
This bookstall is cramed full of books, leaflets and posters. GWR publicity can clearly been seen in this image

Painting by William Shakespeare
1577394 Painting by William Shakespeare; (add.info.: Painting of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English poet, playwright and actor, in St Paul's churchyard

An itinerant bookseller selling tales and song-books for the lower orders from a stall
FLO4590181 An itinerant bookseller selling tales and song-books for the lower orders from a stall. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon

Paris bookstall, 1880s - Bookstall on a Paris boulevard along the Seine, 1880s
NWI4714229 Paris bookstall, 1880s - Bookstall on a Paris boulevard along the Seine, 1880s.; (add.info.: Paris bookstall, 1880s - Bookstall on a Paris boulevard along the Seine)

Book trade in Leningrad near the Kazan Cathedral, 1920-1929. Creator: Unknown
Book trade in Leningrad near the Kazan Cathedral, 1920-1929. In the early part of the Stalin era, the Kremlin established a new administrative territory in the Soviet Far East--the Jewish Autonomous

Book trade in Leningrad near the Kazan Cathedral, 1920-1929. Creator: Unknown
Book trade in Leningrad near the Kazan Cathedral, 1920-1929. In the early part of the Stalin era, the Kremlin established a new administrative territory in the Soviet Far East--the Jewish Autonomous

Book stall on a market surrounded by eight scenes with reading figures, c.1860-c.1862. Creator: Charles Rochussen
Book stall on a market surrounded by eight scenes with reading figures, c.1860-c.1862

Bookstalls on a quay in Paris, 1911. Creator: Rolf von Hoerschelmann
Bookstalls on a quay in Paris, 1911. Bouquinistes de Paris

Chinese bookseller, 1805 or later. Creator: Anon
Chinese bookseller, 1805 or later. A man reads while sitting on a box. He has displayed his stock on a rug. Next to him is a boy reading, possibly his son or a helper

People at a book stall, Paris, 1923. Creator: Anon
People at a book stall, Paris, 1923. Two men, a woman and a girl look at books on one of the quais along the Seine. On the left is the female bouquiniste on a stool

Boy reading at a book stall, 1890-1928. Creator: Alcide Theophile Robaudi
Boy reading at a book stall, 1890-1928. Il lit les poetes a l'etalage des bouquinistes'. (He reads the poets at the stalls of the second-hand booksellers)

Quai de Conti, in 1846, 1846. Creator: William Parrott
Quai de Conti, in 1846, 1846

Shakespeare buying a book from a bookstall in St Pauls Churchyard, London (colour litho)
2791645 Shakespeare buying a book from a bookstall in St Pauls Churchyard, London (colour litho) by Hatherell, William (1855-1928) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Front cover of Printers Pie magazine for 1915 featuring an elderly gentleman reading a copy at a book stall. Printers Pie was published by The Sphere and Tatler in aid of printers charities

At the bookstall (chromolitho)
735862 At the bookstall (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: At the bookstall)

An itinerant bookseller selling tales and song-books for the lower orders from a stall. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste

W H Smith bookstall at a railway station, London, showing a young lady cleaning with a feather duster. Date: circa 1916

The Book Hunters Stall

Pickpocket (chromolitho)
1093690 Pickpocket (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pickpocket. French educational card, late 19th or early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Pierce Butler Mansion, 8th and Chestnut Streets, c. 1855 (b / w photo)
702726 Pierce Butler Mansion, 8th and Chestnut Streets, c.1855 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Free Library of Philadelphia; (add.info)

The Holiday Season, waiting for the Train (litho)
1107538 The Holiday Season, waiting for the Train (litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Holiday Season, waiting for the Train)

W H Smith bookstall, Charing Cross Station, London
W H Smiths bookstall at Charing Cross Station, London, near the entrance to the Continental Departure Platform. Date: circa 1890

Cannon Street Station, c. 1900, (1945). Creator: Marcus
Cannon Street Station, c. 1900, (1945). Busy scene at a London railway station. In the foreground a child sits on a trunk waiting to be moved with a porters trolley

St. Georges Chapel - Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Date: circa 1980s

At One of the Bookstalls of the Farringdon Road Market, c1935. Creator: Walter Benington
At One of the Bookstalls of the Farringdon Road Market, c1935. People browsing the bookstalls in Clerkenwell, central London

Bookseller at Moorfields, London, c1750. Artist: Sutton Nicholls
Book seller with stall under tree in Moorfields, London, c1750. The site later bacame Blomfield Street

Bookstalls of the Farringdon Road market, London, 1926-1927. Artist: Walter Benington
Bookstalls of the Farringdon Road market, London, 1926-1927. From Wonderful London, volume II, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, published by Amalgamated Press (London, 1926-1927)

Bookstalls on Shoreditch High Street, London, 1926-1927. Artist: Whiffin
Bookstalls on Shoreditch High Street, London, 1926-1927. From Wonderful London, volume II, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, published by Amalgamated Press (London, 1926-1927)

Bookseller in Place de la Bastille, Paris, France, circa 1911, by Eugene Atget. Eugene Atget, full name Jean-Eugene-Auguste Atget, 1857 - 1927

A Bookstall In Amsterdam, The Netherlands In The 19Th Century. From Pictures From Holland By Richard Lovett, Published 1887

WH Smiths bookstall at Waterloo Station, Lambeth, London, 1960. Bookstall on the station concourse, selling newspapers and magazines. Men wait at the counter to be served

Wymans book stall at Paddington Station, 1915
An impressive bookstall at Paddington railway station in 1915 with a display of the recently printed Printers Pie, a charitable publication produced in aid of retired printers

Farringdon Rd Bookstall
The famous bookstalls in Farringdon Road, London, where quite a number of MEPL pictures were acquired ! Date: 1906

Jane Jones in Welsh Costume at her Bookstall, Betws-y-Coed, near Llanrwst, Conwy, Wales. Date: 1910s

Victoria station Bookstall
The Victoria (main line) station Bookstall on the day that Captain Bruce Bairnsfathers More Fragments from France was launched 1916

Marylebone station Bookstall
The Marylebone station Bookstall on the day that Captain Bruce Bairnsfathers More Fragments from France was launched 1916

St Pancras Bookstall
The St Pancras station Bookstall on the day that Captain Bruce Bairnsfathers More Fragments from France was launched 1916

Kings Cross Bookstall
The Kings Cross (main line) Bookstall on the day that Captain Bruce Bairnsfathers More Fragments from France was launched 1916

CHINA: BOOKSTAND, c1908. A Chinese bookseller in the prosperous city of Hangchow, China. Stereograph, c1908

Billiards Illustrated - Trying for the pocket - A youthful pickpocket has a rummage through an elderly gentlemans trouser pocket whist he browses some titles on a bookstall. Date: circa 1903

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Step back in time to the early 20th century, where book lovers flocked to Wymans Bookstall at Paddington Station. In 1913 and again in 1915, this iconic book stall stood as a literary haven for travelers passing through London. Even the great Shakespeare himself was captivated by the allure of a bookstall, seen purchasing a treasured tome from one in St Pauls Churchyard. Printers Pie magazine showcased an elderly gentleman engrossed in his reading material on its front cover for 1915. The image captured the essence of quiet contemplation that could be found at any bustling bookstall. Vibrant chromolithographs depicted scenes of people perusing books and engaging with itinerant booksellers selling captivating tales. W H Smith's presence was also felt at these railway station havens, including Charing Cross Station. Their well-stocked bookstalls catered to all literary tastes, ensuring no traveler would be left without their desired read during their journey. The Book Hunters Stall beckoned avid readers with promises of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered within its shelves. However, not all visitors had noble intentions; pickpockets lurked amidst the crowd, taking advantage of distracted bibliophiles lost in their chosen volumes. Pierce Butler Mansion stood as a testament to Philadelphia's rich history and love affair with literature since c. 1855. This grand building housed countless stories within its walls and surely saw many visitors perusing nearby stalls for new additions to their personal libraries. As the holiday season approached each year, anticipation filled train stations across London as eager readers awaited departure while browsing through enticing titles at various bookstalls scattered throughout these bustling hubs. Whether you were seeking solace between pages or embarking on an adventure through words, there was always something enchanting about visiting a bookstall - an inviting world where imagination flourished and knowledge awaited discovery around every corner.