It’s fitting that the story of a rather legendary crafter, dealer and seller of books should be encased in a beautiful book.

It’s also fitting that this beautiful book should take up residence in this household, alongside the many books and literary artifacts we’ve purchased from David Mason’s antiquarian treasure troves over the years.

From the warm-toned, linen-textured dustjacket to eye-pleasing and easing type to charming endpapers depicting watercolour streetscapes on which the various iterations of Mason’s shop have resided, this book welcomes the reader into what promises to be a series of delicious tales and absorbing commentary on the book trade. A most-anticipated book of the first half of 2013, you can learn more about it and its delightfully acerbic raconteur author here, here and here. If you can’t make your way to his shop (from which you will not emerge empty-handed), you can visit online at www.davidmasonbooks.com.