Collecting Antique Books With James Findlay

According to this long-time bibliophile, books are artefacts and should be preserved for future generations.

Visiting James Findlay in the basement of the Rand Club in Jo’burg is like taking a step back in time. Think soft leather armchairs, high ceilings, neobaroque architecture and Persian rugs, amongst rows and rows of bookcases. “Collecting antique books began with simply loving books,” says James. “This was long before the days of the Internet, so if I wanted to read a book that was out of print, I’d have to trawl markets and second-hand shops to find a copy.”