Chatsworth: the Boardgame?
I’ve recently come across this wonderful blog – all about an Oxfam Volunteer’s “finds” amid the “incoming”. Great fun – only makes me wish I could drop by and buy!
http://oxfamwilmslow.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/the-chatsworth-game/
The link above is for the Chatsworth boardgame, but do check out some other blog posts: a Hansard volume (I hate politics, but LOVE this write-up); some journals going for a song, some sheet music ditto.
Must admit to a HAUL of great items from the Oxfam Bookstore in Winchester in 2007… Newly retooled and just reopened, they had some great offerings. The Wilmslow Volunteer’s picks give a great indication of just what passes through Oxfam doors all over the UK.
UPDATE: in revisiting the site, I’ve had a look at the “rules of the game” — It DOES sound great fun: There is the general rule of “Take any Path. Do not retrace your steps” and then a series of variants to the game: THE GRAND TOUR (“start from the Orangery”); RACE; AFTERNOON TOUR (in which you can visit the Maze!); HIDE AND SEEK (with its talk of “the hidden player”); CHASE; and DIVERSIONS.
The “rules” end with this invitation: “Derive lasting pleasure by creating your own games in the exciting gardens of Chatsworth House…”
Austen First Editions
While looking for something totally different (isn’t that usually the case!?!), I came across a listing for quite a number of Austen early editions that are for sale. Yow! the prices:
15 volumes, complete; Variously in first, second and third editions, in uniform 19th century half vellum: $39,327.46
(with a supposed shipping cost, from UK to US, of only $6.52!)
- 2nd edition for Sense & Sensibility (1813); Pride & Prejudice is a 3rd edition (in 2 vols??) (1817); Mansfield Park, 2nd edition; Emma, 1st edition; Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, 1st edition. Owners name: JH Calcott/1845 is written in all volumes. Provenance of the collection, written in various hands, in Vol. 1 of Northanger Abbey! Spans the years 1818 (when purchased in Edinburgh) to 1949. Bound in Oxford in 1896. “Viewing” by appointment only.
A first edition Pride & Prejudice (1813), 3 vols. Previous owners name seems to read Catherine Bouverie: $41,785.42
Another copy of P&P; described as in handsome calf covers, with morocco-covered spines : $48,000
Another copy of P&P: $75,000
I leave you to look over the used books listings yourself.