The Courtauld Institute, nestled inside Somerset House, celebrates the start of the academic year with its annual book sale, open to the public from today and running to Wednesday 7 October.
Thousands of books have been donated by Courtauld alumni and supporters. The resulting collection has a very pronounced flavour of its own: there are a huge quantity of virtually new or gently used art books covering all periods of Western art from classical antiquity to the present day, with a smattering covering art from other cultures. Academic tomes rub spines with coffee table picture books and exhibition catalogues, all priced keenly: there are some great bargains here, and some rare treasures.
If art history ain't your bag, you'll also find fiction and non-fiction books - generally mid-to-upmarket recent-ish literary fiction, biographies, general history and travel predominate.
The sale is held in the entrance hall of the Institute (next door to the Gallery shop and opposite the Gallery entrance).
Opening times
Weekdays, Tuesday 29 September-Wednesday 7 October, 10 am-5 pm
Late Night Tuesdays: Open until 8 pm, 29 September and 6 October
By Eddie Clarke. Image by jrodmanjr in the Londonist Flickr pool.
