The Christian Aid book sale at St Andrew's & St George's Church began its life on a very small scale in 1974 and has now become a national institution.
The year 2008 marks the 500th anniversary of Scottish printing and publishing, and this year's event promises to be a major celebration of literary Edinburgh, the city Muriel Sparks described as "built on books".
The book sale opens at 10.00am on Saturday 10 May and - with the exception of Sunday 11 May - runs until Friday 16 May.
The award-winning author, A L Kennedy, will be he patron of the 2008 event. Kennedy is one of Scotland's best know writers, and was awarded both the Saltire Book of the Year prize and the Costa Book of the Year award for her Second World War novel, Day.
Ms Kennedy will be visiting the church at 3 pm on Thursday 8 May, when she will meet some of the volunteers preparing the books for sale. Some noteworthy items set to feature in the sale will be shown to her. During the patron's visit, former Lord Provost Lesley Hinds will present Christian Aid with a two-volume boxed set: Edinburgh: World City of Literature.
These handsome volumes made up Edinburgh's UNESCO bid and tell the story of the city's literary past and present, as well as giving the vision of the future. There was only a very small edition of these volumes, and most copies were given to delegates prior to the award of City of Literature status in January 2005. The Christian Aid Book Sale will be the first opportunity there has been to purchase this rare set.
Among other items of local interest for sale will be a set of eighty original Victorian street plans of Edinburgh, as well as a fine volume issued to celebrate the laying of the foundation of the new North Bridge in 1896, commissioned by the Town Council (and printed by Banks & Co at the Grange Printing Works).
The St Andrew's and St George's Book Sale is the largest single Christian Aid fundraiser in the UK, with every one of the last five events having raised over £100K for the charity.
-
Nicaragua bans international visitors from bringing in Bibles
-
Controversial US bishop to give BBC Christmas message
-
The little-known history of the X in Xmas
-
Evangelical vicar accused of abuse won't stand trial
-
Pastor who gave sermon near abortion clinic stands trial
-
Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'
Most Popular
News
The mystery of the Wise Men
The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.
The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations
Today in the UK we celebrate Christmas and the period around it with many familiar traditions and activities. There is an understandable assumption that we have always done things this way. However, celebrating Christmas has a long and complex history and things change over time.