It is many years since I have been in a charity shop.
I used to go to have a look at the books in those that sold books, often buying one or two.
Some, though not all, as well as books, had some pictures.
As there seem to be a number of participants here who volunteer in charity shops I am asking about pictures and books in charity shops these days.
From at least the early 1970s and possibly earlier one could buy, at the shop in the gallery, reduced scale reproductions of some of the paintings in the National Gallery in London. Carefully rolled in a tube by a member of staff and then carried home by the purchaser.
Many might have been framed and displayed for many years in the purchaser's home, then, due to the owner passing away or downsizing be given to a charity shop.
I remember in those days larger branches of Boots and W H Smith would sell framed prints - not prints as in an artist's limited edition signed in pencil and numbered as, for example, 19/50, but machine printed unlimited edition reproductions of paintings, some classics, some possibly 'own label' produced for the business. I seem to remember that some large branches of W H Smith had a catalogue from which one could order a framed print of any of the pictures in the catalogue.
Then there may be pictures where someone has, as an amateur artist, produced an original painting, framed it, and displayed it at home.
So I am wondering please if pictures do arrive at charity shops these days, if so, are they accepted, do they sell well, are there people who go looking for such paintings as a historical interest, and so on?
The paintings then perhaps being displayed on another wall for many years.
Also books. I remember years ago that there used to often be in charity shops books from Everyman's Library, in their pre-war style of binding. Everyman's library, in a different binding, was available in at least the late 1950s.
In the 1960s there was what seemed a vast range of the Teach Yourself books, all hardback available in bookshops. There were a lot of ones to learn a language. Later there was a much reduced range in softback.
And Pelican books, not very expensive paperback books with a wide range of subjects widely available in bookshops.
Are these arriving in charity shops now?
