A Communist Bookshop, A Small Bookshop, People's Bookshop and Pilgrim's Bookshop
6. [ ] A Communist Bookshop
1940s?
Northside of Commissioner near Delvers I think.
A small shop in an old single-storey building, run by a little elderly lady with glasses
New books
Nothing for me here but on a low shelf in a corner there were some pocket books (U.S.) unexpectedly.
7. [ ] A Small Bookshop
1950s, a year or two
West side of Klein between Bree and Plein
Run by a man in his thirties. Was he previously connected with a second-hand bookshop in Bree Street? I’m not sure.
Used books only
Bought : A present for a friend who notes the acquisition details in his books. In this case, date = 1955.
1999-11-24
9. People's Bookshop
1930s/40s
Trades Hall, 30 Kerk Street
A small shop
New books
Presumably of trade union and similar interest.
Bought : The City of Dreadful Night and Other Poems by James Thomson (Thinker’s Library).
About 1950 moved to 45 Kerk Street, probably under new management. Later changed name to Pickwick Bookshop.
1999-11-24
It’s to this shop that Rusty Bernstein went when he wanted to join the Communist Party. See his Memory Against Forgetting c. 2000. He also mentions Pickwick.
1930s-1950s ?
10. Pilgrim's Bookshop
21 Plein, North Side, off Eloff
‘The mecca of booklovers’, ‘Children’s books a speciality’ (on Bookmark)
Run by a good-looking dark-haired man in his forties, probably the owner. If so, his brother owned Pilgrim’s in Cape Town.
New books.
A good general selection. Strong in Everyman’s Library.
1999-12-02