Short of trying Amazon, can anyone recommend shops in London which has an extensive (dare I say exhaustive) range of Leica (and photography) books.

Thank you.

-- PD (pd100@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002

Answers

There are loads of good photography and art bookshops along Charing Cross Road.

-- Philip Woodcock (phil@pushbar.demon.co.uk), January 05, 2002.

The largest bookshop in the world, or at least large enough for me, is Foyle's, which occupies most if not all of a block on the west side of Charing Cross Road. They have lots of books on everything. You might also see whether there are still camera shops handling Leica literature around a little square on, I believe, Bury Street just south of the British Museum. A branch of the Vienna Leica shop was in there for some time, but it seems to have disappeared. However, other classic camera shops were there, too, and I expect they still are. Even if they haven't books you might want, the historic photo gear is worth a look.

-- Keith Nichols (knichols1@mindspring.com), January 05, 2002.

Try Classic Camera in Pied Bull Terrace, by the British Museum. Phone number: 0207-831-0777. They have a good selection of Leica dedicated books. Lager, Satorius, Hove etc...

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), January 05, 2002.

Keith says, "The largest bookshop in the world, or at least large enough for me, is Foyle's, which occupies most if not all of a block on the west side of Charing Cross Road."

I'll second that. I spend hours in there everytime I am in London. They have a section that has every current Leica book from every publisher. They are also very good about letting people look for as long as they like. This one store has saved me many Dollars, because I was able to see that some books would have been a waste of money. Before finding this store, I would have sent off sight unseen from mail order. Some books that I highly desired were discovered to be lacking, and left on the shelf.

Do check out this store.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), January 05, 2002.

Yes, another recommendation for Foyles - simply the best book shop full stop!

For Leica nuts my usual London trip is: Tube to Holborn and first stop "RG Lewis cameras", along Sicilian Ave to "Classic Jessops" (avoiding Classic Camera), onto Charing Cross Rd for all the book shops ("Foyles" etc) and through Leicester Square to Picadilly Circus and "Richard Caplan" (possible detour to "Techno" in the Strand)!

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 06, 2002.

Giles, I do the same trip too. Except I do stop over at Classic Camera (not my fav. Leica shop either). But I don't know about Techno. I also stop by the camera exchange on the strand. They have 2nd hand Leica bits but go fast. Cheers,

-- sparkie (sparkie@mailcity.com), January 07, 2002.

Sparkie, I think it's a "Tecno" - (virtually opposite Charing Cross station) - they too have a fast moving second hand Leica supply as well as all the latest stock of RF's.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 07, 2002.

Sorry, "Techno".

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 07, 2002.