REVIVED EDITIONS – GREAT IDEA

Revived Editions is the brain child of former prominent New Zealand book publisher Brian Phillips. Revived Editions is a range of second-hand books exclusive to bookseller UBS Canterbury ,(pics left), and on sale in both their campus and hospital shops.

They range from recent to out-of-print books, from the rare to the popular. They are not limited to just New Zealand books although there is always a good range of N.Z. books included.. All are presented in good condition at attractive prices. The selection is made by Phillips in consultation with senior UBS staffer Gillian Newman.

The concept of selling new and second hand books being sold side by side is not new and perhaps the most famous example of this is the splendid Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon. Closer to home Berkelouws in Oxford street Sydney is a fine example of the genre and in an interesting development their second hand book barn at Berrima in the Southern Highlands of NSW has recently added new books to their huge second hand range.

While in the impressive UBS Canterbury a couple of weeks ago I bought a book from the impressive Revived Editions display – INTO THE FIELD OF PLAY edited by Lloyd Jones. This title, long out of print, was published in 1992 by Tandem Press (since taken over by Random House NZ but then owned and operated by lively publishing duo Helen Benton & Bob Ross).
Lloyd Jones pulled together a most interesting collection of writing on the theme of sport by some of NZ’s best known writers including Geoff Chapple, Kate de Goldi, Tom Hyde, Owen Marshall, Brian Turner, James McNeish, Roger Robinson, Warwick Roger, Elizabeth Smither and Damien Wilkins.
Some of the stories had been previously published while others were commissioned for the collection.
Somehow I had missed this title back in 1992 so I’m glad to add it to my library now, and for the record the original price was $24.95, I paid $7.99 for my copy. A bargain.
Footnote:
Retired publisher Brian Phillips also operates Brian Phillips Books Ltd. which sells books on the internet predominantly through three web sites.. http://www.abebooks.com/ , http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and on the ubiquitous Trade Me [where he trades as literatekiwi] .