Obituary: Louis Bondy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Louis Bondy, antiquarian bookseller and local politician: born Berlin 19 June 1910; died 10 June 1993.
LOUIS BONDY's bookshop was in Little Russell Street, near the corner of Bury Place, writes Nicolas Barker. When he set up, there were many booksellers round the British Museum - the McLeish Brothers, the Grafton Bookshop, George Harding, Raphael King. He outlived them all, and at one time seemed likely to be the last, if the Holford scheme to develop the area south of the museum for a library annexe had come off. Bondy was opposed to this, not just for selfish reasons, and was delighted when Lena Jeger's campaign against it, to which he gave useful support, succeeded. He was, on the whole, glad when competitors, Ben Weinreb and others, returned to the area.
His stock was always individual, as he was himself. It was strong on theatre and the performing arts - there were always some sequined prints of columbines, harlequins and Mr Punch in the window. There was also a wide range of London books and prints, and an eclectic selection of English and foreign literature. He dealt, more openly than most, in antiquarian pornography. But his chief enthusiasm was for miniature books, about which he knew a great deal. He did not, like most, simple regard them as matter for measurement, but had a scholarly interest in their authors and publishers, going back to the 16th century. This knowledge was recorded mainly in his catalogues, which will be carefully preserved by those who shared his interests, but also in a book, Miniature Books: their history from the beginnings to the present day, published in 1981.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments