2023 was the centenary year of our bookshop, Bertram Rota Limited, founded by my grandfather. His uncles, who gave him his first job, and their father were booksellers too. My father took the helm in 1966 and I joined the business in 1995. In modest celebration, I wrote and sent to customers “monthly musings” all of which are now appearing here. In April we issued a major catalogue rather than a reminiscence, but there is another written in December 2024 but not published until now.
Each month has its own post but this may be helpful if a particular subject is of interest.
January. A reflection on our first and other very early catalogues with comments on how they changed over the years.
February. Special and themed catalogues and single owner collections.
March. Private Presses.
April. The Centenary Catalogue.
May. Bertram Rota Publishing and booksellers as authors.
June. Collectors.
July. Forgeries.
August. On giving up our shop and a history of our premises.
September. A very strange morning, the bizarre story of a manuscript.
October. Archives and two special collections.
November. Archives part II.
December. A seasonal short story by my father and grandfather.
December. The original version. Opprobrium and mishaps.
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