The books were available in my local book shop, the sadly now defunct Exchange Bookshop in Dalkey, County Dublin. I think they were £3 each at the time and if I remember correctly it was pocket money from a generous visiting relative that financed my purchases. Between the ages of twelve to thirty two I was distracted away from birds (as so often happens), but I kept the books and have opened them many times since then and slowly pored over the stunning illustrations.
Last week I was clearing out old books and brought a bag full to a second hand book shop in Norwich. I didn't want any money for them so the owner told me to pick out a book for myself 'on the house'. I found a near perfect copy of third book in the series 'Birds of Lake, River, Marsh and Field. Seeing how much I was enjoying the books, my wonderful wife Polina found the last two on ebay and amazon earlier in the week and this morning the set was complete........thirty-five years later.
All I need now is for Mr. Jonsson to sign them.
No comments:
Post a Comment