by Dimple Shah
A small group of us from Women in Publishing (WiPS) had a very interesting visit last week, thanks to Lok Man Rare Books and its knowledgeable owner and proprietor, Lorence Johnston.
The store is in an arcaded floor of the iconic Pedder Building in Central, Hong Kong, which has been refurbished to show off its fabulous architectural details. The space is complete with a cosy bar, and an even cosier study and cigar room. Lorence was kind enough to take us around before we settled into comfortable leather chairs, among tomes dating from over 400 years ago.
Lorence’s story is fascinating. A chance remark about filling the empty bookshelves with something special in a newly furnished interior design store owned by a close friend, took Lorence to Europe in a quest to find rare old books. Introduced to the rare books market, and the aficionados who make and run it, his passion was aroused ̶ and has resulted in the bookshop we see today.
Business hasn’t been all smooth sailing: the protests and Covid presented a challenge by impacting visits from regular clients. The technical side can also be strenuous, with a lot of research needed to confirm the provenance and condition of each book. Still, Lorence is hopeful in the promise of a new clientele, one that cannot resist the charm of holding a collection of first editions by the Brontë sisters, or a fabulous collectible like “The History of Champagne.”
The evening was both enjoyable and informative, and we came away with a deeper understanding of the rare books market and the reasons it is such a magnet for collectors who know and love books. I truly believe the delectable fragrance that seeps out from old books is the fragrance of nostalgia, the longing for a past that is still very much a part of our present and our future.
“What a lovely event! I loved hearing the backstage stories and efforts of how a rare book makes it to his shop’s shelves (so so many hours of diligent fact checking), and who some of his interesting clients are (of course he didn’t disclose any names).” – Hoi-Yee Yip