Once upon a time, we collected Abbey, Biggles, Billabong, Billy Bunter and the Famous 5, Chalet and Dimsie Books. The Gem, Observers Books, Ladybird series, The Magnet and Wonder Books and have pages about ANNUALS, ARTICLES, ARTISTS, AUTHORS, BOOK COLLECTORS and COLLECTING, CHILDREN'S AUTHORS, CLUBS, EPHEMERA, FANZINES, MAGAZINES,  NON-FICTION GENRES and SERIES, PAPERS, POCKET LIBRARIES, READERS, SERIES and STORY PAPERS. Yes, we're still here after 15 years!

bc       COLLECTING BOOKS and MAGAZINES
We also collect TV series on DVD.
Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
SERVING COLLECTORS for almost 17 Years; SINCE 29th JULY, 1997.
Page updated 30th June, 2014.
 BOOKMART | BOOK FAIRS  | WANTED LISTINGS | FOR SALE 
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< Lorraine Stacker's PENRITH THE MAKINGS OF A CITY

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2014 Book SELECTION     ALL OTHER INTERESTS and recommended websites including photo sites detailed below. Click on the thumbnail to go direct to the page.
 
Our previous years BEST BOOK SELECTIONS: Greg and Sylvia Ray's DESTINATION NEWCASTLE and earlier volumes.		  
bc COLLECTING BOOKS and MAGAZINES MAIN INDEX A-Z bc
We've been online for more than 16 years, firstly on the Penrith City Library website, then on our own dedicated site where we remain. We've all grown older, poorer and - possibly - in some ways, wiser. Those 16 years have seen an exponential change in the field of collecting, archiving and the book trade. It's a well-repeated phrase, but the internet has created a level playing field for both collectors and those looking for information. Prices for once scarce books have fallen dramatically. Values for first editions have risen but this aspect of collecting has lost impetus recently among all but public institutions and the extremely well-heeled. There's never been a better time for people to take up book collecting! Information on almost any author, character, series, publisher and subject is at your fingertips. No longer do you need to join a club or buy expensive guides to collecting. Sadly, this has led to the demise of the once so common and welcoming secondhand bookshop. No longer can one wander through isles of dusty books or chat to long-time purveyors of books and magazines. Magazines indeed have mostly lost their collectability while collecting clubs devoted to authors, those where collectors actually met, talked and swapped books face to face, have mostly faded from the scene. On the plus side, more vintage content is finding its way online, much as once rare movies, documentaries and early silent movies are becoming available to everyone. That in itself can't be a bad thing. #
  COLLECTING BOOKS and MAGAZINES FACEBOOK GROUP
INDEX to NEW SOUTH WALES LOCAL HISTORY GROUPS and PAGES on FACEBOOK 		 
WANT TO HELP KEEP US ONLINE and AD-FREE?
  BOYS' AUTHORS and related pages INDEX A-Z  
GIRLS' AUTHORS and related pages INDEX A-Z

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  ANTHONY HORDERN'S Half way down George Street and opposite Hobbyco was the mighty ANTHONY HORDERN EMPORIUM (as it was generally called back then). A vague memory lingers in my mind, of entering AH up a long escalator on George Street, just up from Goulburn Street.
ANTHONY HORDERN'S		   52ND FIELD PARK COY. I've put this page online as I was unable to find any online references to the 52nd Field Park Coy. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who knew my father. The details all come from two re-union leaflets found in my father's papers.
52ND FIELD PARK COY.		   BANKSTOWN where I spent my first half century. Here you'll find photos of BANKSTOWN STREETS 1970s, 1960s, 1950s and beyond, once I find the time to get on with my memories of a life spent avoiding fights and still having a good time! School, mates and times past in Australia.
BANKSTOWN		   BILDA-BRIX, the 1950s Australian plastic brick construction outfit, manufactured by Playmate, moulded by Moulded Products (Australasia) Limited. Also known as Buildabrix, Bildabrix, Buildabricks and Bildabricks. Another icon of my childhood in the 1950s, and one that has lasted the distance. 
BILDA-BRIX		   BILLY BUNTER the most unforgettable schoolboy of all time! 'Frank Richards' was just one pseudonym of Charles Harold St John Hamilton, born in Ealing, Middlesex, England on August 8, 1876. The most prolific boys' fiction author of all time. You'll find him listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
BILLY BUNTER		   THE BILL Details of fan publications, cast birthdays and links to other pages discussing the past and history of Sun Hill's favourite police station and its characters, their adventures and the people who put together television's favourite, longest running London bobby series.
THE BILL		   BLOGGER - CB&M REVIEWS (external) This is where you'll find all CBandM information should I ever find the time to move it across. So far there are only several reviews and info on Biggles, but now I've posted the link here, maybe it will remind me to get on with the job.
BLOGGER		 bc
  BREAD The classic BBC comedy series set in Liverpool, England, from the legendary Carla Lane, OBE, who wrote 'The Liver Birds', 'Butterflies', 'Solo', 'The Mistress', 'The Last Song' and 'I Woke Up One Morning' among others. At least two books and one annual have been published. 
BREAD (C)BBC		   BOOK REVIEWS - short 'MICRO' BOOK REVIEWS, Quickie reviews of books read, mostly enjoyed, but not always...by your venerable CB&M editor. Also see BEST BOOK, 'THUMBNAIL' REVIEWS and REGULAR REVIEWS which preceded this page. Use the main A-Z link above to access these pages.
BOOK REVIEWS		   CONTRIBUTORS Yes, that's Greg perusing a SAPPER story. You'll find his story and those of other contributors via this link. We can always use more contributors, either to supply new pages or update current ones. No pay, just the satisfaction of a job well done!
CONTRIBUTORS		   DMR NSW There are countless stories to relate about the DMR, the people, the work, the building. Many appeared in THE HIGHWAYMAN and you'll find some of these available via PDF files. Relatives looking for information on family members are welcome to contact me by email or snailmail.
DMR NSW		   DVD, MOVIE and TV Our interest in books has pretty much been eclipsed by a non-stop trip via the idiot box to TV series and movies of the past. This link will take you to more links and DVD reviews, so join in the fun and take a trip down memory lane while you're reading that book, and eating chocs!
DVDS, MOVIE, TV		   FAIRS and AUCTIONS The one page which is regularly updated. We run details of Australian events IF details are sent in. So if you want your book-related event or exhibition included, send in details but read the important information at the top of the page.
FAIRS, AUCTIONS		   FLICKR - EDITOR'S PHOTO STREAM (external) The best place on the net for photos. I've managed to stick below the 200 limit for free use, but it's likely I'll have to go all the way and actually pay for the pro site in the near future. See the BLUE MOUNTAINS LIBRARY collection when you're on Flickr.
EDITOR'S FLICKR		  
  THE GEM for those of you not familiar with that pre-ww2 icon of the British Empire juvenile world, was a story paper similar to THE MAGNET and survived 1711 issues. It featured throughout the years stories of St James College in Sussex - more commonly known as St Jim's to its scholars.
THE GEM		   HEARTBEAT This much-loved Yorkshire-set TV series taken from the 'Constable' books by Nicholas Rhea is currently (mid-2010) coming to a close on Australian screens. So it seems worth pointing out the original books so you can see the reason for the series' long term popularity.
HEARTBEAT		   LINKS - BOOK Pages and sites about Australian, British and American authors, characters from fiction, series sites, book search and auction sites via this links. PLEASE let us know of links which don't work, new sites, ones that have moved and anything which needs a fix!
BOOK LINKS		   LAWSON, a town in the mid-Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. Currently undergoing a major rebuild thanks to the long overdue road-widening of the Great Western Highway, yet another page which will eventually see a major reworking thereof!
LAWSON, NSW		   LINKS - NON-BOOK You'll find links to pages and sites concerning our hobby interests, TV and movie sites, transport and toy sites, EMERGENCY HEART ATTACK and STROKE information. As with the book links, email John if you find broken links, or ANY incorrect information.
LINKS-OTHER		   HOWARD BAKER, the facsimiles of the most famous story papers of all time, THE MAGNET and THE GEM. Here you'll find listed most of the known titles, together with ratings and other details. Should you want originals, I have well over a thousand, and still they flow from the boxes ...
HOWARD BAKER		   KEMLO and his friends live on Satellite Belt K, a giant wheel spinning in orbit around Earth. The boys, born in space, require no helmets and thus can't survive in any type of atmosphere without special apparatus. This series of books was, and is, unique for that reason. 
KEMLO		  
  GINGER MEGGS When I was a child back in the 1950s, Ginger Meggs was the comic we all read, the staple entertainment of many generations of Aussie kids, generations before, after and today. Along with Don Bradman and Phar Lap, Meggsy (or Ginge) remains an Aussie icon, a working class hero.
GINGER MEGGS		   WILBUR KENTWELL AUSTRALIA'S MAESTRO OF THE THEATRE ORGAN and occasionally, the piano, ex-Parramatta High School student. Wilbur's many albums include the Echoes of Hollywood series Columbia, MGM, RKO, Paramount. Wilbur died on the night of 8th February, 1981.
WILBUR KENTWELL		   MARGARET NELSON The TV series 'Class of '74' provided a launch pad into 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' for a number of actresses, but for me it was Margaret who attracted my attention. She had about her a naturalness quite unlike any other actress on television at the time.
MARGARET NELSON		   HE GEM was a story paper similar to THE MAGNET and survived 1711 issues. It featured throughout the years stories of St James College in Sussex.
THE GEM, the pre-
WW2 story paper		   MATCHBOX 1-75 NZ (external) Another interest which has remained dormant for decades, fired up by Mick's exhibition at Penrith Library. Lots of colourful sites on the net but this New Zealand 1-75 series spot kind of tickled my interest in the little die-cast vehicles of my youth. 
MATCHBOX		  
PALS 		   PHOTOBUCKET (external) Another picture site which I'm using for photo dumps in respect of Forums. You put your photo, single or collection, in there, and link to Forums, or anywhere which has a limit on capacity. Good for eBay as well. Recommended by various contacts.
PHOTOBUCKET		  
  TRI-ANG TRAINS It all happened one birthday back in the 1950s. My parents gave me a bright red box about SO big ( holding out arms like a fisherman describing the catch of the day) lettered with unique yellow printing and, best of all, a colour illustration on the box top showing a huge train layout! 
TRI-ANG RAILWAYS		   CBandM on SHUTTERFLY (external) This site took over the much-missed NEXO site. Another spot to load images but so far I've not loaded text. But as with BLOGGER, a site which will certainly see more use in the future. Click on the link to see the opening page, and join if you wish.
SHUTTERFLY		   SYDNEY TOYSHOPS will gather together the memories of those of us who used to frequent, or work for, the toy, hobby and sports shops of Sydney and its suburbs.
TOYSHOPS		   TV SCHOOLS This is the page where children's books and television collide. As a fan of either or both children's books and television, you'll find something of interest on this page. There's a 1980 cut-off point, although this isn't a hard and fast rule. Needs an update; can anyone help?
TV SCHOOLS		   MONTY Wedd is well-known for his detailed illustrations of Australian military uniforms. He is also widely recognised for his painstakingly researched cartoon-strips on historical characters and episodes, which appeared in the Sydney Daily Mirror over many years.
MONTY WEDD		   TOYSHOPS will gather together the memories of those of us who used to frequent, or work for, the toy, hobby and sports shops of Sydney and its suburbs.
TOYSHOPS		   WONDER BOOKS Famous for their 'before and after' endpapers, these books were ahead of their time in their use of mostly slick paper and good quality photographs. They were also sturdily constructed, the proof being in the number that are still to be found in good condition. 
WONDER BOOKS		  
 
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Site established by Barbara > bcooper1 @ pacific.net.au < - Site owned and maintained by John - chiefchook@gmail.com
CB&M has been online since 29th July 1997.

To retrieve old CB&M pages, go to THE WEB ARCHIVE (thanks to Michael E for this link).
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