December 25, 2024
Chicago 12, Melborne City, USA
Dear Diary

IT'S BOOT FAIR SEASON!

It really is this time!

Not like back in February when I THOUGHT it had kicked off but hadn’t really. Arminghall, the big Boot Fair I normally go to says online that it starts up in March, but wasn’t on when we arrived, apparently it starts next week. However, thanks to the wonders of Facebook I was tipped off that there was a Boot Fair on at Costessey Park & Ride and was thus saved from the intense irritation and grumpiness that would otherwise have ensued having dragged myself from a nice warm bed for no reason.

After the positive reaction to my last post I have decided to share more of my Boot Fair bargains on the blog, so here’s what I picked up this weekend!

The Books

Some of these are Mr Chick’s purchases, he loves the old books, but amongst them are a couple for me. A 1957 copy of The Good Housekeeping and Cookery Compendium and a 1947 copy of Jane Eyre that I bought mostly because I liked the orange patterned cover. Also there is a copy of a Film Parade annual that appears to date from 1950 and was apparently sold exclusively by Marks & Spencer. I haven’t had chance to investigate in detail, but it appealed to me because it contains details on how you too might one day see your name up in lights, and an inscription in the front

To Jennifer

With Lots of Love and Best Wishes

Aunty Mable, Uncle Reg and Christopher

I like to think perhaps Jennifer was an aspiring actress on her way to seek her fortune on the stage. (I’m such a soppy old mare)

The Glass

There are 5 of these sundae dishes, so I assume one got broken along the line. These were a bit of an impulse buy as I liked the curving shape and the engraved pattern. I actually already have a set of 6 1940s sundae dishes in pretty colours that I’ve only used once, but hey you never know when there might be a need for an impromptu sundae party for 11, right? Anyway, at 50p I couldn’t really leave them!

The China

This was the bulk of my finds this weekend! Lots and lots of plates! I bought the Indian Tree pattern and the platter underneath it from “Petes Fill a Bag for a Pound” my favourite boot fair stall for china! It’s often slightly chipped or worn, but that doesn’t really bother me much. The rest of the china came in a lot from one stall for Ā£5.50. There are 6 Alfred Meakin Soup Bowls, 2 plates and a dish. The dish is missing it’s lid I think, but as it was thrown in it doesn’t really matter! Apart from the tulip plate, which is around 1955, all the crockery dates from the 1930s.

Total spent, about Ā£10.

Hurrah for Boot Fair Season!

9 Comments

  • Mr Chick March 7, 2011

    What about the exploding Ponds jars?

    • Retro Chick March 7, 2011

      Ah yes, I was going to wait till we’d made them into non exploding candles!

  • Paperdoll March 7, 2011

    I love your finds, the glasses are gorgeous, what a bargain!! I’m going car booting next weekend, cant wait…X

  • perdita March 7, 2011

    Love those plates! I can’t wait for our local to start- April not March annoyingly… patience patience…

  • Lucy March 7, 2011

    Loving the sundae glasses…I never seem to find anything other than broken teacups! Maybe I should do as my school report used to suggest and just ‘try harder’!

  • Fiona Culshaw March 7, 2011

    I need to start car booting again, we used to be avid car booters years ago but just stopped, need to start again!

  • Vix March 7, 2011

    Great finds! I love seeing other people’s buys, it makes up for the lack of car booting up here, roll on spring! xxx

  • Laura Connell March 8, 2011

    I never heard of a boot fair before and it looks like its not about boots. Wonderful vintage finds. I love old china and old books, too. I dream about who might have used them before and what was going on historically at the time, what they were wearing, how they lived.

  • Mim March 9, 2011

    Fab haul! I’d be up to my ears in china if I had room for it. The books look great.

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