ABA News
Destination Dealers: Roger J. Treglown, Milnthorpe
Our new occasional series visits dealers around the UK, getting to know their shops, specialisms, and what they’re looking out for on the market.
Can you give an overview of your career in the book trade?
I started life as an apprentice Millwright in Manchester and later was a consultant engineer in the nuclear industry. I was born and bred in Hulme, a suburb of Manchester near the city centre.
I recall when I was a little boy going with my parents every Sunday afternoon to see their friends in south Manchester. On an early visit I wandered into a room at the front of the house, probably the lounge, where an alcove of old leather-bound books tempted me to remove one from the shelf and open it. At once the sweet, musky, faintly vanilla aroma hit me, and I was hooked. Many years later I was offered the opportunity of buying an existing bookshop in Hale, Cheshire. After two years I joined the PBFA, and probably about five years later I joined the ABA.
In 2000 I was elected onto the ABA Committee, as it was in those days, and twenty-three years later I stood down from being a Council Member. During that time, I held a number of posts within the Association which culminated in my Presidency.
Do you have a specialism or any particular area of interest in the items you stock?
I originally started selling only chess books and issued 36 chess book catalogues. However, my business is now generally based on antiquarian books and pamphlets etc.
Is there a 'holy grail' item you're always on the lookout for?
I am interested in early printed books, and of course, we all want to find a Gutenberg.
You've attended many book fairs over the years. Do you have a favourite bookfair?
Yes, when I started off, I was probably doing something like forty-five fairs a year. Since then, I have reduced the number. Moving to the South Lake District a couple of years ago, I have embarked on a circuit of book fairs in West Yorkshire and North Lancashire of which I exhibit at eleven, plus local PBFA Fairs and national ABA Fairs.
I managed the ABA Chelsea Fair for 13 years, and branded it as ‘the friendliest book fair,' which it still is. My friend and colleague Graham York looks after it now, and it remains my favourite fair on the book fair calendar. We must all thank Adrian Harrington for starting the book fair all those years ago.
You served as ABA President from 2019 - 2021. What are your reflections on your time in office?
It was a torrid and difficult time. Initially I had to find new premises for the ABA as The Booksellers Association wanted us to vacate our offices in Bell Yard by November 2019. In order to save money I took the decision to vacate much earlier that year. Then our Secretary, Camilla, was head hunted by one of the London Livery Companies. We found a replacement Secretary and new offices then we were hit by Covid. This resulted in the Battersea, Chelsea, and Edinburgh (2020) Fairs having to be cancelled with a resulting financial loss to the Association. In view of this I convened weekly Management Meetings instead of the monthly ones. Those meetings and the understanding and patience of all the membership enabled the Association to survive.
What advice would you give to a new collector who is looking to start their collection.
Undoubtedly, the best way is to befriend an ABA bookseller, they will take you under their wing, educate and guide you along your book collecting path.
What parts of your bookselling year are you particularly looking forward to?
I look forward to the annual SLAM Paris Book Fair, the good wine, good food and company are an added bonus.
What are your thoughts on where the book trade is currently?
I'm afraid the trade may be entering a less propitious period as a result of world affairs at the moment.