Eaton & Deller of Crooked Lane & Bury Street St. James

Once upon a time in Arcadia, most notably in the years before and just after 1884, and always upon a Thursday, ladies, gentlemen and badgers about town in need of connection would take themselves off to the premises of Eaton & Deller who had branches both in the now vanished Crooked Lane and the grand backstreet of Bury Street in St. James.   There, they might take advice as F.M. Halford did himself, from 'one of the most practical tackle-makers with whom I have ever been acquainted, one who understood his business thoroughly and was willing to discuss, experiment and improve any point brought to his notice.   This was the late Mr. Deller of Messrs. Eaton & Deller'.

Should you be a lady, a gentleman or a badger detached about town do not panic that now is the year 2013 for a flame is kept for Messrs. Halford, Eaton & Deller upon my stall which opens at 8am every Thursday in Spitalfields Antiques Market on Commercial Street to the north-east of the site of Crooked Lane and where it is my solemn duty to sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul in the 21st Century.

Detached Badger meets Artful Dodger Uptown

Bought early on Sunday morning last as the rain fell upon the district known as Bloomsbury and passers-by hurried along the wet pavements to the shelter of their homes, the 1902 editions of The Halford Dry Fly Series No.1, 2 & 3, by F.M. Halford a.k.a 'Detached Badger' of The Field.  Each volume is sheer rapture.  All enquiries via the Field Telephone.  Thank-you.

The Path to the Lock-Up

The path to the lock-up temporarily blocked by one of the one hundred trees that were felled on the Heath by yesterday's storm.

Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair - Tomorrow

The last of the boxes and cabinets are filled with a vast array of angling related paper and card which will be for sale on my stall at tomorrow's Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair  including a packet for Superior Crystal Roach Hooks which came in amongst a box from auction yesterday.

Bloomsbury Expeditionary Force

The next three days will be spent sorting through almost a decade's worth of collected ephemera the best and worst of which be for sale on my stall at Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair on Sunday of this weekend coming, 27th October.  I look forward to your good company should you be in attendance.

Being an Observation and a Guide to the many and varied types and characters of the JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

In the parlours and kitchens of mansion blocks and prefabs across Arcadia chipped mugs of Ringtons Tea liberally laced with Victory Gin are downed, cats and dogs are kissed, cabbages are boiled, black pudding is fried and another log is thrown on the fire as Elgar issues from the radiogram in honour of: 'Being An Observation and A Guide to the many and varied types and characters of the JACK RUSSELL TERRIER' the new illustrated book by the artist John Richardson, in printed letterpress by Mr. Martin Clark and handsewn by Miss Anneliese Appleby.   It was an immense honour to have been asked to write an introduction to JACK RUSSELL TERRIER and I am very proud to be associated with such a work of fine art.   You may order a copy directly from the artist by telephoning him on Zanderland number 01945 773850.

Potatoes to Kew Bridge

Bought yesterday at Spitalfields from my neighbour the most esteemed coastal and inland dealer Mr. Lucian Myerscough a large bundle of printed labels used once upon a time on the railways.

From the Year 1800 & Uptown Tomorrow

On the stall tomorrow and amongst a further number of rare books, 'Angling in All Its Branches' by Samuel Taylor, Gent.  Published by T.N. Longman and O. Rees in Paternoster Row in the year 1800.   Formerly the property of Mr. George Watson Neish of South Kensington and Forfar and including a sum in his hand on one of the pages.  Bound partly in leather with marbled boards.