@TimBryars

Antiquarian map & bookseller in Cecil Court, WC2. Half of Bryars & Bryars; co-organiser London Map Fair; co-author 'A History of the 20th Century in 100 Maps'.

 London
bryarsandbryars.co.uk
Joined August 2009
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746Media
Last match of the season
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Homemade scones and cricket at Lord's. Perfect.
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The bat which @StBartholomews parishioner W.G. Grace carried when he made his first century in 1864.
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Wartime dictionary to help free Poles understand idioms: not English - what Brits are actually talking about (different things entirely). Any guesses for 'swop horses in the middle of a river', 'to go on a wallaby track', 'the Bishop has set his foot in it' or 'my cake is dough'?
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'Ninth part of a man' also eluded me, but apparently it's tailors: nine tailors make a man. 'Irishman's dinner' I could also guess - I wonder what the Polish translation is for that! 'My cake is dough' is about half baked ideas. Poor Poles though! 'My hovercraft is full of eels.'
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Mafeking in April 1900, a month before the siege was lifted, part of a series which was hurriedly cobbled together, generally considered amongst the worst maps ever issued to the British Army ('not to be considered as absolutely accurate' is quite the understatement).
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Strangely, very few maps open naturally to the right, suggesting that the map mounting was done by the same left-handed individual working for civilian printing firm Wood and Ortlepp in Cape Town.
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A really unusual 18th century novelty book contained in a 'schraubtaler' or screw medal, featuring portraits of George II and III. Printed (engraved text and images) in London c. 1763 and commemorating British victories worldwide during the Seven Years' War.
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It contains circular cut-out printed paper discs with engraved images and engraved text, glued back-to-back and lightly stitched together. Quite a lot of work - it can't have been cheap. I've located 5 others, in institutions and auction records, worldwide.
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Aha! This is what it's all about. On again today, so there's still time to visit.
Cecil Court@cecilcourtwc2
Aug 26
theupcoming.co.uk/2026/08/25…

Step inside the world of Bookish as Gabriel Book’s bookshop comes to London

A corner of Gabriel Book’s 1940s London is being recreated in Cecil Court this week, with a free Bookish-inspired bookshop opening ahead of the detective drama’s return to U&alibi. Your Book’s...

theupcoming.co.uk
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「書店探偵ブック」Bookish S2の放送を記念して、8月25日〜26日限定でマークが番組のインスピレーションを得たセシルコートにポップアップストア“Your Book’s Bookshop”がオープンします。 常駐ライターが来客ごとに特別なカバーストーリーを提供してくれるとのこと。 入場無料ですが要予約。
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Filming is about to get underway for another season of Mark Gatiss and @DrMatthewSweet's 'Bookish', here in Cecil Court, and the set blends in so naturally with its surroundings that people are pausing to browse.
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I can't get over how delightful this late 17th century lettering piece is, on a 1682 edition of Hooker's Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie. Hooker did as much as anyone to shape the Anglican via media, a path between Catholicism and the puritans. For which I'm rather grateful.
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We also visited the Spanish Gallery in Bishop Auckland. Absolute highlights for me were the crucifix and crucifixion by El Greco. Worth a trip to see these alone. (I really should have posted these first time, rather than 'viking' sheep at Kynren.)
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Magnificent weekend. The Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland is spectacularly good (delighted to see their 1536 Tyndale NT), the epic Kynren pyromusical leaned hard into the 'pyro' element, plus multiple sheep stampedes. Visited Bede and Cuthert in Durham Cathedral. Inter alia.
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St Cutbert and the otters, a dry point etching by James Lang, our pal from @StBartholomews, our own modest purchase at the opening of his exhibition at the National Liberal Club tonight. One for you too @holland_tom?
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Ready for the crowds at the 2026 London Map Fair @RGS_IBG. Doors open at noon, half an hour to go.
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Plan of the Downing Street Public Offices Extension Act 1855, authorising the purchase of adjacent property to consolidate government offices. Bringing it to this weekend's London Map Fair. londonmapfairs.com
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Looking forward to #londonmapfair this weekend. You'll find this Everest Travel Globe next to The Royal Geographical Society's giant Johnstone globe in The Map Room. It's free to visit do come say hi! Sat 6th 12-7 Sun 7th 10-6 The Royal Geographical Society SW7 2AR
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For the 2026 London Map Fair this weekend: maps satirising the Irish Home Rule Bill by 'Tom Merry', cartoonist and music hall performer William Mecham (not a Gladstone fan). NB, he credits his fellow artist/performer Lillie Tennant as designer of England as George and the Dragon.
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