Treasures waiting to be found

With just over a week until the 36th Star Regent 24-Hour Book Sale, the volunteer sorters have taped the last box of books closed ready for transport to the Theatre. The pack in starts this weekend, with thousands of banana boxes of carefully categorised books stacked and ready in the Regent’s storage facility on Kaikorai Valley Road.

This year, there are some particularly interesting books and collections. Under the stage, in the priced books area:

- NZ military books including many unit and campaign histories from WW1 and WW2

- Several collections of vintage children books including Biggles, Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter and Ladybird books

- A range of old Stones and other Dunedin street directories – ideal for genealogists

- Some very rare books about Māori, including Takitimu (1944), Maori as He Was (1924), The Maori (Vol 2 only unfortunately) and Maori Lore (1904)

- A good historical spread of rugby almanacs – to fill gaps in people’s collections

- Vintage and collectable books of all sorts, particularly strong this year in mountaineering, the Antarctic, travel, Otago provincial histories, old NZ cookery books, 1930s–50s Penguin books

- Thousands of as-new sci-fi, thrillers, children books and fiction of all sorts including Folio books and this year’s best sellers

On the stage (each for only one dollar):

- A huge assortment of good quality cookery and gardening books including many hard to find classics

- A particularly strong range of biography, history and current affairs

- Widest possible variety of children’s books for all ages, including many old favourites

- More dollar novels than ever before

An aural backdrop…

The music line-up this year features many favourite Dunedin musicians including Luke Flanders, The Bandits, Grace Hagan, Bronwyn Halley, Nicole Samuel, Dave Coleclough, Phil Corfield, Darryl Baser, Alyssa Campbell, Michelle Hendrik, Jacob Ambrose, Robyn Baldwin (Robyn Johnston), Donna Dickinson, Michaela Anderson, Marlise Sparkes, Son4 (Band), Catgut and Steel, Paul S Allen, Dylan Shield, Margaretha Cambridge, Monica Barkman, Bedford School of Music, Valley Bluegrass and The Oxo Cubans.

Overnight, house DJ (and projectionist) Russell Campbell will re-energise tired volunteers and serenade the night owls who prefer a quieter experience with vinyl sessions of classics and old show tunes.

This year, staff will be collecting feedback from customers about the live music to assess whether it continues to be a pleasing addition to their shopping experience.

ENDS

© Scoop Media