classics – Adelaide's Pop-Up Bookshop

Posted on May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 by Nick

Online Book Auction – May 11, 2019

As we continue to find new ways to connect booklovers with amazing books, we’ve teamed up with online art auction site Invaluable.com to launch our inaugural Online Book Auction. Titled Literary Curators: Modern Firsts, Art, Australiana, Signed Books, Etc. this auction consists of 155 lots, including many signed books and not one but TWO of only 506 first edition printings of The Colour Of Magic – the first book in the blockbuster Discworld series by Sir Terry Pratchett.

The auction is a varied one with Australian Art and Exploration well represented, fine bindings and antiquarian books plus numerous rarities. However, the main interest has been in the many modern first editions and signed books so be sure to place your bids! Signatures include JK Rowling, Allen Ginsberg, JM Coetzee & HG Wells whilst special editions of To Kill A Mockingbird, Catch-22, A Moveable Feast, Cat’s Cradle and Suttree are on offer.

This auction will be open until 7pm, Saturday 11 May (Australian Central Time) when lots will end at one-minute increments. This is an online-only auction so place your bids now to ensure you don’t miss out! [click here to go straight to auction catalogue]

Posted on April 13, 2018May 1, 2018 by Nick

Celebrating 10 Years In Bookselling

Or Ten Years Swimming Like A Shark...

A shark has to keep swimming or it dies. Similarly, in many businesses, keeping moving – literally and metaphorically in our case – is key to survival.

Local book purveyors Kate Treloar & Nick Patrick of eclectic Adelaide’s Pop-up Bookshop, started out exactly a decade ago (13/4/2008) with cute Hills bookstore Chapter Two Books (Stirling).

While across the globe bookstores have been closing down, this duo have used changing locations, non-traditional shop layouts, mixing old-new and collectible books, and social media to maintain relevance. They are currently in the Central Markets and have just wound up a summer stint at Glenelg.

“While small business has always been challenging,” says Co-owner Kate Treloar, “this past decade has been insane for bookselling in particular”.

“E-books were the main fear when we started, then the GFC, a general decrease in disposable incomes, Google over-riding reference books, and now a certain online behemoth undercutting everybody on their quest for world domination!”

“We believe there will always be a need for a fiercely independent, thought-provoking bookshop like ours,” Ms Treloar says.

“But it’s a huge concern that it’s become practically impossible to earn a living running one, which would leave bookselling in the domain of the wealthy and/or unethical.”

“We do need to make a living and that’s not easy at the moment – a depressing and terrifying scenario at times. We have definitely questioned in the past whether continuing is the right long-term decision. Ultimately though, we do continue because it’s what we love to do – and it’s definitely not boring!”

Which is why continued community support is vital. “Use it or lose it – it’s a cliche but it’s true. We owe every day of our ten years in bookselling to those people who value what our humble little bookstore represents.”

“We are super proud to be celebrating a decade sharing books with the community” says Ms Treloar. “But we plan on celebrating several more so will keep reinventing as long as we have to!”

Posted on November 24, 2017 by admin

Books @ The Bay

We’ve spent our entire bookselling career bucking trends. And now, with bookstores closing universally, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the opening of a second outlet! Our new home will be 85 Jetty Rd, Glenelg – right in the middle of the historic beachside suburb’s retail strip (opposite tram stop 16 and the new cinema complex, if you’d like directions).

We’re retro-fitting a former frozen yoghurt store and, at this stage, it will be a Summer Pop-up running from December 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018… but if it works we’d love to make it longer-term.

And to set a few minds at rest, yes – we’ll still be in our Central Market HQ, so now you’ve got two go-to book destinations!

Posted on October 9, 2017 by admin

Celebrating Harry Potter in the Market

Just in time for the school holidays, Adelaide’s Pop-Up Bookshop has assembled an accessible and extraordinary collection of children’s books for its latest exhibition Just For Kids??

The exhibition includes the most tantalising range of collectible Harry Potter books ever displayed in Adelaide.

“We’re always looking to do things a little differently,” says Pop-Up Bookshop owner Nicholas Patrick “and this exhibition could very well be the most exciting project we’ve undertaken yet.”

Mr Patrick claims that he and partner Kate Treloar want to reveal just how exciting the mysterious world of books can be by showcasing items that today’s children can relate to whilst also stirring the sense of nostalgia felt by the young-at-heart.

“Kate & I grew up with titles like Possum Magic and The BFG,” notes Mr Patrick. “They’re also the books our kids have grown up with; and they will continue to entertain and guide children for generations to come. They’ve been printed in their millions but the truly special editions don’t pop-up very often (even for people like us who scrutinise tens of thousands of books every week) and, when one does, it’s always genuinely thrilling.”

Just For Kids?? isn’t just an 80s flashback zone though with collectible editions of The Adventures of Tintin available for those with longer memories and, to mark the 20^th anniversary of the release of The Philosopher’s Stone, an unprecedented array of Harry Potter books.

“The highlights within this collection are the hardcover copies of The Chamber Of Secrets and The Prisoner Of Azkaban that have been personally signed by J.K. Rowling,” states Mr Patrick. “Additionally, we have some early editions of The Philosopher’s Stone; some unusual deluxe editions; and genuine first editions of later Harry Potter titles.”

In line with their moniker, there will also be a large range of pop-up books including some incredibly rare regimental items from the early 1900s plus books by Roald Dahl, Graeme Base and a whole lot more.

‘We always stress that a book is more than just words on a page,” Mr Patrick states. “And with a mix of first editions, signed copies, pop-ups and special publications, we hope people will learn a bit about the value of real books and perhaps look at their own collections a little differently.”

Just For Kids?? runs through October in The Gallery Next Door, adjacent to the Pop-Up Bookshop on the Central Market’s Eastern Laneway.