POP-UP BOOKS IN THE UK

I am a 50 year old child living in the Staffordshire Moorlands. About 20 years ago I bought my wife a copy of 'Haunted House' by Jan Pienkowski for a joke Christmas Present. Big Mistake! A book that leaps out at you, makes a sound like a monster sawing its way out of a crate and with enough flaps and things to keep anyone amused into the New Year. Magic! I was hooked.

Twenty years later I am the proud owner of 300+ books on every subject from Children's Tales to rather 'Adult' themes. Due to a limited budget I have bought few at full price. Instead I haunt the discount bookshops, book clubs and internet searching for bargains.

I have also limited the range of books that I will buy.While some collectors specialise in specific authors or subjects such as Cartoon Characters, Animals, Star Wars etc.,my only real requisite is that the book must impress me either with its paper engineering, its artwork or preferably both. Mind you there are some titles that must join the collection. How can you not own 'The Pop-up Kama Sutra'

My collection is mainly from the 2nd Renaissance of moveable books (ie the mid 1960's onward). The earlier books notably the 'Kubasta' style of pop-up do not interest me - they seem too 2-dimensional. I also only collect pop-ups, not pull flap or changing picture books and I avoid books with push-out figures.

As you will have realised by now I aren't a proper collector. My books aren't even sealed in plastic bags and I keep on getting them down and enjoying them. I'll never be rich. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy my site - feel free to contact me with any comments or ideas to improve it. I'm just starting this web-site thing. Good Collecting and I'll see you at the bookfair/bookshop/car boot sale...........