Carter's of St. John Street

Once upon a time in Arcadia, in the year of Our Lord and other Uncertainties 1899, ladies and gentlemen abroad and on the streets of London in search of Fishing Tackle would hail a Hansom and ask to be taken forthwith to A. Carter & Co. Ltd  -  Fishing Rod & Tackle Manufacturers whose premises were at 371 St. John Street 'Near the "Angel" Islington'.   There, they could choose from what The Fishing Gazette called 'one of the largest trades in the world', and buy a selection of items happy in the knowledge that they were at once in the company of H.R.H The Prince of Wales, T.I.M The Emperor & Empress of Russia not to mention H.I.M The Grand Duke Alexander Michaelovich.

Should you be a lady or a gentleman abroad and on the streets of London in search of the type of Fishing Tackle that was for sale at Carter's in the Year of Our Lord and Other Uncertainties 1899 you are advised to hail a taxi or take the Underground Railway and visit me at my stall in Spitalfields Antiques Market, where on *THURSDAYS ONLY* between the hours of 8am and 3pm I sell Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul.  You will be in good company.

Kempton

Bought at Kempton this morning alongside a small amount of tackle, a pair of large signs from a lost Show Ground.

Farlows in September

In a kitchen in Arcadia London North Six a kettle is filled and a drum roll is played on empty Victory Gin bottles as a proof arrives from Master of Ink of Mr. Martin Clark of Tilley Printing for A Paper Bag for You advertising 'Andrews of Arcadia meets Farlows Uptown' when a stall selling Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul *SHALL APPEAR* on Tuesday 17th September in the Year of Our Lord and Other Heatwaves 2013.  This edition of the bag will shortly be available from my stall, at respectable tea vans, on the road over the summer and of course, on the day itself.  Thank-you.

Mrs. Blood and Friends

Found late last night whilst researching the Richards Tile Factory in Stoke-on-Trent a list of dealers from Longton Market which was originally published in the Staffordshire Sentinel in 1907.  Amongst those taking a bow included Wareing - Newsagent & Second Hand Book-Dealer, Warner. G - Rabbit Dealer, Mrs. M. Blood - Herbalist, A Chiore - Ice Cream Vendor, Mrs. Ada Bandell - Draper, Pedley J.H - Toy Dealer and Whiston, Miss Annie - Fancy Goods Dealer.   Their ghosts continue to stall out over a century later in antiques markets across the land.

From 'The Lake of the Woods'

Found recently in a box of Hardy Spoon Baits bought early one morning at a car boot sale a Cummins' XX Bar Spoon, the type used to take over 130 pike over three days in 'The Lake of the Woods' in the Year of Arcadia 1929.    For immediate sale in the corner of my website known as  'Under-the-Counter-Madam'.

In a Bookshop Window

Found in the window of Ripping Yarns Bookshop in the Archway Road after a brisk walk to the bank and the Post Office earlier today, a copy of Harry Batsford's 1950 'London Work and Play - A Series of Illustrations', including one of a bookstall in Farringdon with the by-line, 'Book bargain-hunting in Farringdon Road.  (Note the detached attitude of the stallman.)'  Regular visitors to my own stall may or may not recognise this un-familiar pose.   The photograph was taken by J. H. Stone.

Charmed Object

Bought late on Saturday night from a gentleman in the parlour of a public house in the back streets of Kings Cross a Farlow's Platewind Trout Reel of the most excellent provenance with engraved face, straight foot, ivory handle and patina oh, so glorious.  The trade continued after closing time when we retired to the adjacent street and proceeded to hold a Private Early Start Late Night Car Boot Sale Preview with a battered suitcase being plucked from the back of the gentleman's Mercedes Saloon and its contents examined by streetlight.