For the last couple of years, there has been a growing demand for old books, especially first prints or first editions, in the country. The older the first edition, the more expensive the books are. Whether it is a copy of poet Shamsur Rahman's Prothom Gan Dwitio Mrittur Aage, his first poetry book published in 1960, or Al Mahmud's second poetry book Kaler Kalos, published in 1966, many avid readers are ready to pay high prices to collect and preserve original first editions.
Not only books but also magazines and periodicals published long ago appeal to readers. It is also interesting to find that many people over 40 or 50 are still nostalgic about the school textbooks they studied three to four decades ago. Some suppliers are also there to meet the demand. A market has developed for exchanging old books and magazines. Online search reveals several virtual platforms to explore desired old books. Social media, especially Facebook, also offers a fascinating way to browse and collect old books.
There is a noticeable craze for paperbacks published by Sheba Prokashoni in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Founded by Qazi Anwar Hussain in 1963, Sheba Prokashoni's books significantly contributed to developing reading habits in Bangladesh. The Masud Rana series, the first Bengali spy thriller series created by Anwar, tops the list. Some fans fiercely compete to collect first editions of the series now. Those with rare collections of Rana books from the 1960s or '70s proudly post photos on social media to allure others. Then there are the books of the Western fictions. Sheba started publishing Wild West fiction in Bangla for the first time in the early '80s, written by Qazi Mahbub Hussain, Qazi Anwar's younger brother.
Again, many who were in junior schools in the mid '80s are still obsessed with Kishore Pasha, Musa Aman, and Robin Milford. They are the core characters of a juvenile thriller series named Tin Goenda (Three Detectives). Though primarily an adaptation of Robert Arthur's Three Investigators, Rakib Hasan made the series a Bangla classic for school-goers. Those schoolboys are now middle-aged and look for the original books printed on newsprint.
To the avid fans of Sheba Prokashoni, the first editions of books published in the first three decades of the publishing house are vintage books! It is unbelievable that some of these books sell for Tk 1,000 to even Tk 10,000, though original prices at the time of publication were below Tk 20 or Tk 30. How to explain the madness when cheap reprinted editions have been made available in the market by the publisher?
Avid readers of Masud Rana, Tin Goenda, or Western in the '70s and '80s lived in a time when recreational options were limited. In many parts of the country, television was also not available. For most students and youths, reading books and magazines, playing football or kabaddi on school playgrounds, and listening to radio programmes were the only options. Some also went to the theatre or cinema. Nevertheless, Sheba's books opened a thrilling and creative horizon for many. Spending Tk 10 or Tk 20 on a book was not easy for many. So they rented and exchanged books. The cover pages and story summaries on the back covers, and diving into the books passionately, were like a dream to many.
Many years later, those young readers have become parents and professionals. Memories of those days sometimes haunt them, and they feel an urge to revisit the thrilling days. Old books serve as time machines, letting them travel back. By collecting first editions and touching their pages, they find the treasure troves they lost long ago. The old books turn into gold for them and for those who sell them at high prices.
