posted on 22 Aug 2016

Caledonia Books of Glasgow

Although second hand bookshops are hard to find in the centre of Glasgow if you head out west towards the university in the Kelvinbridge area of the city, you’ll find the excellent Caledonia Books on the Great Western Road.

Established in 1986 this is a great traditional bookshop that seems to have something for everyone but has a particular specialism in Scottish literature. There is plenty of space here – a big upstairs area and a matching downstairs floor – and the shelves are packed with a great selection of books that range from reading copies through to real collectibles.

I really loved the atmosphere in the shop which was relaxed and unhurried and the owner didn’t pester or interfere with the browsing experience – there’s a fine line between being welcoming and getting in the way and in this case that line most certainly wasn’t crossed.

It has to be said that the prices on the books are in my opinion at the top end of retail and so I don’t think you’ll find lots of bargains. All of the more unusual or collectible books I picked up in the illustrated section or from the literature shelves were priced fairly I think but pretty much at the maximum for their rarity and condition. The prices were slightly lower on the children’s books (we picked up a modern signed picture book for a snip) and, as with the adult sections, the condition was excellent.

So please try and get along there if you pay a visit to Glasgow because you won’t regret it.

 

Terry Potter

August 2016