A NEW BOOK ARCADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13938, 21 December 1908, Page 4

A NEW BOOK ARCADE.

AUCKLAND FIRM'S ENTERPRISE. The opening of the Strand Book Arcade in the Strand Arcade will be thoroughly appreciated by lovers of good books, a splendid selection of modern and ancient literature having been made by the proprietors. While all that is now is to be found there, even to the very latest productions of the English and American printing presses, the claims of the old classics have not been overlooked by any means, and all that has survived in English prose "from Mandeville to Ruskin" is to be found on the heavily-laden shelves of the new book shop. Most of the latter are in the pocket editions which have been so popular of recent years, and are to be had in new and attractive leather and cloth bindings. At the same time the management has made a splendid selection of the more elaborate "gift" or "prize" books, and as an instance of many some particularly fine editions of Shakespere's plays are to be had at a wide range of prices. Of latter-day fiction there is sufficient to gratify the desires of a librarian (which is saying a big thing), and side by side with George Eliot, Thackeray,, and others of the old school, are to bo seen all the authors who command any favour in the twentieth century. The Strand -Book Arcade proprietors have secured roomy premises, which until recently were occupied by the Piccadilly Tea Rooms. The transformation is a very complete one, and an arrangement of the shelves and tables has been made whereby customers can very easily locate what they want. One portion of the main shop is devoted to 3s 6d novels, another to gift books, and so on. In a special division only religious and theological works are to be found—Bibles, church services, hymn books, etc., for every denomination—and in this respect the collection is one of the finest.in the city. In the centre of the main room there are three large tables devoted to the display of a variety of articles. Tho show of Christmas cards is very fine, the Strand Book Arcade being the Auckland depot for Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons, the celebrated colour printers. There are also a splendid assortment of calendars and postcards, the work of the same firm, and books in attractive leather and cloth bindings. The main "table is devoted almost exclusively to books in highclass bindings, and these include devotional and birthday books amongst a number of others. A prominent feature on this stand are tonie exquisitely bound and beautifully illustrated American productions suitable for presentation. Another table is loaded with toy and picture books for young children, and books of travel, etc., well calculated to interest those who are likely to be forgetting the story of "Jack, the Giant Killer," and kindred tales. These books are imported from such well-known publishing houses as Tuck's and Deans'. In this department there is also a good variety of all the best known juvenile periodicals. In a separate department the firm is showing silverware and knick-knacks of all descriptions so dear to the feminine heait. There are silver-backed brushes, hand-mir rors, photo, frames, clocks, and handbags, amongst a profusion of other articles both ornamental and utilitarian. The collection o? handbags is quite a feature of the display, and they are to be had at all prices'. The stock is new and up to date, and. it has been well chosen. The shops occupied command a -frontage of 66ft to the Arcade, and the dainty display of goods in the windows is attracting considerable attention. :;;