Fire at Another British Bookseller Totally Destroys Shop
- by Michael Stillman
Berwyn's shop was a total loss (Berwyn Books Instagram photo).
Another terrible fire has struck a British bookseller and the losses are devastating, a total loss. Just last month, we wrote another such story about Cosmo Books in Wem, where losses were practically total. Now the same has struck Buckley bookseller Berwyn Books. On the night of November 16, Berwyn Books' shop went up in flames. Around 400,000 books were destroyed, including one signed by Queen Victoria and a first edition of Radio Times from 1923. While most were of a more recent vintage and more for reading than collecting, they did carry a selection of older and more valuable material, including the above items, a collection of archaeological books valued at £5,000, and various other letters and books dating back hundreds of years.
Almost 50 firefighters responded to the call but there was not much they could do. The fire was extensive and once the roof collapsed, any hope of salvaging much was gone. The following day, the structure was condemned, too unsafe for anyone to enter.
Berwyn described the situation on Facebook, saying “We’d love to tell you it was only a small incident, but unfortunately that’s not the case. The fire spread across the whole premises. We don’t really know what to say, except everything’s gone.” The statement continued, “We are extremely fortunate that no one was in the building at the time, and all our team, though obviously distraught at these events, are physically safe and well.”
The owners have not yet made an announcement as to what the future will be for the shop, but there are hopeful signs they will be able to return. They have been accepting book donations and are now looking for a place to store them. A “Donation Day” was held at the Buckley Football Club and they said “it's safe to say it was an extremely successful one.” They added, “we are feeling much more positive about our future.” They are going ahead with their annual Christmas Fair, though obviously it will not be held at their shop. Instead, the fair will be hosted at the Northrop Hall Cricket Club. The date is Saturday, December 11.
Some friends of Berwyn Books have set up a GoFundMe page and as of a few days ago, they were only a hair short of the goal of £2,800.
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: LETTRE ENCYCLIQUE, manuscrit XIXe siècle
Gros & Delettrez, June 12: NOUVEAU TESTAMENT, Amsterdam 1668, reliure arménienne
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Peter Max, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore (Versions 1,2, 5, 6), 2001. Estimate $10,000-15,000
DOYLE: The iconic screen-used wall-mounted "M" from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Estimate $5,000-8,000
DOYLE: The Mary Tyler Moore Show by Al Hirschfeld. Estimate $4,000-6,000
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Annie Leibovitz presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke for Vanity Fair. Estimate $4,000-6,000
DOYLE: Al Hirschfeld presents Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in the CBS Wednesday Night Lineup. Estimate $4,000-6,000
DOYLE: Richard McKenzie, Portrait of Mary Tyler Moore. Estimate $1,000-2,000
Doyle The Collection of Mary Tyler Moore June 4, 2025
DOYLE: Three Original Bill Hargate Costume Designs for The Mary Tyler Moore Hour. Estimate $600-800
DOYLE: The famous Bonnie and Clyde "Wanted" broadside. Estimate $500-800
DOYLE: Ticket to the Final Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show Estimate $400-600
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Bissière, Roger. Cantique à notre frère soleil de saint François. 1954. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. La vie & l’œuvre de Philippe Ignace Semmelweis. 1924. Rare édition originale, avec envoi. Joint : La Quinine en thérapeutique, 1925. 4,000 - 6,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Céline, Louis-Ferdinand. Mort à crédit. 1936. Édition originale. Bel exemplaire sur Hollande. 2,500 - 3,500 EUR
Sotheby's Bibliothèque Jacques Dauchez - Autour de Dubuffet
5-19 June
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Chillida, Eduardo ─ Emil Cioran. Face aux instants. 1985. Un des 100 exemplaires sur Arches. Eau-forte signée. 600 - 800 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. Ler dla canpane. L’Art Brut, 1948. Édition originale. 3,000 - 5,000 EUR
Sotheby’s, June 5-19: Dubuffet, Jean. L'Herne Jean Dubuffet. 1973. Un des 100 exemplaires du tirage de luxe avec une sérigraphie originale en couleurs. 1,000 - 1,500 EUR
