Letters from Arcadia

A letter dated May 25th 1939, just one of the many hundreds of important pieces of paper that I will be selling from cabinets and open boxes on my stall at Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair on Sunday 27th October.

The author of the letter writes, 'I have asked Ogden Smith in St. James's St. to send you a few dry flies which I hope you and Ann will accept.  I don't know if Adolf Hitler will allow anybody to fish this year but if so I trust one or two of these flies will help you or Ann or both of you to land a monster trout!'

Spitalfields

Bought at Spitalfields yesterday from a gentleman dealer a small collection of tokens relating to the Cherwell Fishing Association, date unknown.

J. Cheek (of The Golden Perch) 52 Strand

For perusal tomorrow on the stall amongst an armful of angling books of a similar age and older, some of which will be for sale, a Second Edition of 'The Young Angler's Guide: Comprising Instructions in the Arts of Fly-Fishing, Bottom-Fishing, Trolling, &c.' published in the year 1839 by J. Cheek (of The Golden Perch), 52, Strand.

                                   

Kempton

Kempton early this morning, a market on the cusp of autumn.

Up on 'One Fish Pool'

The gracious ladies and gentlemen at Toast have today kindly published a short gothic of mine entitled 'One Fish Pool' on their blog Toast Travels.

Arcadia Public Announcement: Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair - Sunday 27th October 2013

On Sunday 27th October I will be stalling out in a double trestle pitch at the Bloomsbury Ephemera Fair which takes place indoors at the Royal National Hotel on Bedford Way in the district of London known as W.C.1.

I shall have with me glazed cabinets and old boxes of angling related paper and card accrued over the last decade of dealing, including cast packets, angler's letters, envelopes both full and empty, sent and received, postcards from the Victorian to the post-war,  redundant counter boxes for obsolete brands, packaging of all kinds from cleared tackle shops,  one or two framed original prints and photographs and a small number of guides and books dating back to the Georgian era.

Doors open at 10am sharp and remain a-jar until 4pm.  Entrance is £1.  The nearest Underground Railway Station is Russell Square on the Piccadilly Line and there is also free street parking, it being a Sunday, nearby.  Should you wish to visit me I look forward to your good company.   If there is anything in particular you would like me to bring along please don't hestitate to call me on Field Telephone Number 07980 274 383.  Thank-you.

Ogden Smiths of Piccadilly & Elsewhere

Once upon a time in Arcadia, and usually on a Thursday, ladies and gentlemen abroad on the streets of London in search of Fishing Tackle could call in at any one of the number of Ogden Smiths branches that were dotted around the capital.  Those not desirous of leaving the comfort of their own homes could even order a catalogue which if despatched early enough in the day might arrive by second post.

Today in this the Year of Our Lord and Other Westerlies Laden With Rain 2013, ladies and gentlemen abroad on the streets of London without the need to stay in for the second post and in search of Fishing Tackle are invited to summon up the spirit of Ogden Smiths by visiting my stall in Spitalfields Antiques Market which is open on Thursdays only between the daylight hours of 8am and 3pm and from which I do solemnly sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.  Spitalfields has a vast iron and glass roof from which you may shelter from the rain, a fish and chip shop nearby as well as a constant supply of hot running tea.