I'm excited to share some of the Goldsboro Books journey with you! Back in 1999, my friend Daniel and I kicked off this adventure because, well, we have a thing for collecting signed first editions. It's a passion, really. And we wanted to make sure that people who couldn't make it to signing events could still grab a signed copyBack then, signed first editions weren't as common as they are today. You know, those tip-ins signed pages? Not a thing back then. Nowadays, it's all the rage, with publishers trying to spice things up and, let's be honest, make a little extra moolah with those special signed editions.
Fast forward to 2005, and I decided to shake things up a bit more. That's when the Goldsboro Book Club was born (it’s now called PREM1ER). The goal? To bring those signed first editions straight to the hands of readers who I believed would cherish them as highly sought-after, long-term collectables.
Our shop in central London became a hub for authors to swing by, sign their books, and spread some literary love. The club started small, with just 50 members, but guess what? We've grown into a fantastic community of nearly 1500 members, and I'm not looking to make that number any bigger. Why? Because I love the idea that each book is numbered and limited, they're extra special because they're personalised with those sought-after signatures, and they are not on tip-in pages.
Our first choice was Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, swiftly followed a month later by Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s masterpiece, The Shadow of the Wind. Of course, I had no idea that these books would become the highly collectable books they became but I was on a winning streak. Other choices went on to win awards and become bestsellers too. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Half of a Yellow Sun, The Book Thief, Before I Go To Sleep, Girl on the Train, Wool, Daisy Jones and the Six, to name just a few.
Imagine having a bookcase full of signed first editions people are searching for and willing to pay serious money for. It has been a joy to have spent the past 19 years curating for the book club. I read many books each week with a view to choosing it as a club pick. It is hard sometimes, there is so much choice. For 2024 and heading towards our 20th year as the original book club subscription, I have already chosen some truly beautiful novels for the year's first half.
So, here's to the joy of collecting and sharing stories. If you're curious, swing by our shop or check out PREM1ER. Let's keep the love for books alive! Join PREM1ER today!
