Books like A Pound of Paper by Baxter, John

John Baxter grew up in 1950s rural Australia where books were often dismissed. By eleven he owned his first volume, a collection of Rupert Brooke's poems, sparking a lifelong passion for rare books. Baxter’s quest took him worldwide, beginning in London in 1978 with a discovery of a rare Graham Greene children’s book and a chance meeting with the legendary book dealer Martin Stone, who became his mentor. Through witty narration, Baxter reveals the secret world of book scouts—hunters who use ingenuity to source hidden treasures in junk shops, auctions, and private collections. He shares encounters with authors such as Graham Greene, Kingsley Amis, J.G. Ballard, and Ray Bradbury, while depicting the booming market for first editions and the path that led him from a bushboy to a Paris penthouse owner with a multi‑million‑dollar library.

First publish date: 2002