Amid a flurry of literary activity in the Doon valley comes a festival of rare books for those who wish to look at and buy books they may have been searching for since long.

This festival would start at  Natraj (The Green Book Shop)  on February 1 and would continue  for some days.

The festival has been specially curated for book lovers who are interested in books which are more than one hundred years old and are not easily available these days.

Upendra Arora of Natraj said, “Rare books, elegantly leather-bound, with beautiful gold and bronze engravings, will be available at the store for sale for a few days. Several books in limited editions would also be on display and sale.  Max Mueller, Sven Hedin, Edwin Arnold and  F E Younghusband are some of the authors whose well- known but difficult to find texts would adorn the shelves. The subjects range from Indian history, travels across India and foreign shores, to Sanskrit, food and gardens.”

He further says that many of the books to be displayed would be publications of Natraj which is known for printing rare books on history, military and forestry  (related to the Uttarakhand region). “However, we have specially acquired many more titles through an agency which is collaborating with us for this fest, “he says .

Some of the rare books which would be displayed from Thursday onwards are A Historical Sketch of the native States of India by G B Malleson,  Gurkhas (hand Books for the Indian Army) by Eden Vansittart, Wonders of the Himalayas by F E Younghusband, life in Ancient India by S Iyengar  and Kasha the City Illustrious by E Greaves.

Many of the books which would be on display were first printed some 150 years ago.

So those who are looking out for such rare books can now browse the shelves at the Green Bookshop this February. The worlds of history, forestry, travel, cuisine, philosophy and military await you!