The thought of going through life with extinct Penguins makes me quite sad. The whole premise of Allen Lane establishing the Penguin publishing company in 1935 was to provide a good read for a very affordable price. I wonder if they notice though how they sell when the price is marked down to $3.00. Second hand booksellers toss them when they can't get $12.00 or $15.00 for them. Keep the hard covered books but an old paperback with an orange cover, no picture might as well be first on the pile. Paperbacks appear to equate with rubbish to many. I almost throw a party if I find one with a dust jacket still intact. Most of these old books are not in mint condition. They receive so many donations that are not suitable for anyone they apparently have included old paperback books amongst this lot. Obviously Salvos are not saving the Penguin books that come in. I have never in my life found a single Penguin book in a Salvos shop. One is Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul) and the other the Salvos (Salvation Army). For example there are two major charity services in Hobart. However there is a silent war happening against Penguin books. Love to see those chronological numbers in order on my shelves. ![]() Hunting down the Penguins and ticking off the numbers on their spines are fun for more obsessive people such as myself. The illustrations of some of the Penguin book covers especially for people who collect specific illustrators are exciting for many. Instead of scribbling all over it like this? Why can't the book seller just give these to a nursing home The Puffins for children, the non fiction Pelicans, music scores, film magazines and many more too numerous to mention here. There are also all the other series of Penguin books from this time. Some people only collect the cerise Travel and Adventure ones or the Green ones favouring Crime stories. With publication having begun in 1935 and ending in approximately 1970 a voracious reader could follow quite a chronological social history of not only the UK but of the world. Vintage Penguin books are collectable because people love reading them. Also the $8.60 postage should be $3.00 for the weight of the book (if that). I have seen numerous copies of this in the Tip shop down the road. Currently the book, The Black Girl in Search of God by Bernard Shaw is listed for $34.70 + $8.60 postage within Australia on eBay. I think what bothers me the most about Penguin books are book sellers asking outrageous prices for them especially in on-line auctions. It is a good situation but won't last much longer. If I help sort the myriad of books for the closing out book sales I can set aside the Penguins and put an offer on them. Lately I have been working in a huge warehouse that belongs to the estate of a deceased book seller I knew. ![]() Often I get them for 20 cents, 50 cents or $1.00. Normally I don't spend more than $3.00 or $4.00 per book. I am sure when I do finally find them I will have to pay more. It is hard to know when I may or may not find an old Penguin book. Books are more valuable the more unattainable they are.
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