Collectors and spotters....

I often wonder about the weird and wonderfully diverse group of people who are book collectors. They come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. From bus drivers, financiers, car dealers, aristocrats, even tramps. I've had them all in my shop and it's hard to pin point just what has led to their particular book obsession, be it Rider Haggard first editions, observer books, books about trains or boats, buses or trams, football or chess. So I was particularly interested in a brilliant collection of photos on the Guardian web site today about spotters, because I think they're basically the same type of people. That is to say people who spot things; birds, trucks, boats, sharks you name it there's a spotters fan club for it. There's probably a book collector spotter out there somewhere! I'll leave you to judge for yourselves....