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"Follow the White Rabbit"

I stepped into the small and unobtrusive charity shop unnoticed by those walking past, their gaze seemed to skip decidedly from the store to its one side to that on its other. Removing my woven gloves and stowing them away in my coat pocket, I smiled and greeted the old lady behind the counter to my left. She looked up, surprised by the strength of my voice, which seemed to pierce the heavy and still air. She raised her cat eye spectacles to her face and smiled sadly in my direction.

I slowly walked towards the back of the shop where a small set of shelves housed a varied array of forgotten literature. They bore the signs of the sedentary turn of their life, with a thick layer of dust running uninterrupted across the top of each row. Browsing titles along the haphazardly arranged spines my mind envisaged the likes of the history of Victorian public transport, the adventures of Peter and Jane and a compendium of the flora of Eastern Brazil.

Along the second row my eye was caught by a faded red lettering, they read a name that I recognised. I knew I had to purchase it regardless of whether I already owned copies merely due to its beauty. Carefully pulling the book out, I noted the powder blue and cream hand painted cloth cover. As I knocked lightly with one knuckle on its front I noted that this cloth had been stretched over wood as opposed to card. I slowly turned the cover to reveal the interior hand painted patterning. Further turning the pages with great care I quickly noticed the irregular printed type, clearly signalling the use of an outdated press.

Accompanying the text I came across a series of hand printed and painted images, the plate prints of which I already owned in later editions. The excitement that coursed through my mind as I walked over to the counter was incredible. Even greater still than the new lease of life I had given this text, was the fact that I was able to do so for a mere £2.

Currently playing: Everywhere - Michelle Branch

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