1
Books do not perÂish like huÂmankind. Of course we comÂmonÂly see them broÂken in the habÂerÂdashÂer's shop when onÂly a few months beÂfore they lay bound on the staÂtionÂer's stall; these are not true works, but mere trash and newÂfanÂgleÂness for the vulÂgar. There are thouÂsands of such gewÂgaws and toys which peoÂple have in their chamÂbers, or which they keep upÂon their shelves, beÂlievÂing that they are preÂcious things, when they are the mere passÂing folÂlies of the passÂing time and of no more valÂue than paÂpers gathÂered up from some dunghill or raked by chance out of the kenÂnel. True books are filled with the powÂer of the unÂderÂstandÂing which is the inÂherÂitance of the ages: you may take up a book in time, but you read it in eterÂniÂty. .Peter Ackroyd
2
There is a camaraderie that grows up among those who work with old books and old papers, largely, I suspect, because we understand that we are at odds with the rest of the world: we are travelling backwards, while all those around us are still moving forward.Peter Ackroyd