Old treasures found as bookshop moves | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

An original Rotorua High School stamp and books dating back more than a century are among a treasure trove of historical items found when McLeods Booksellers moved.

Found in the old Tutanekai St building where McLeods has been operating from for the past decade were books dating back to the 1800s, old slide rules, Romney pencils from 1971, old ink pen nibs. printing stencils, boxes of old invoices and a 1927 Rotorua High School stamp.

Store manager Fraser Newman said he was stunned to discover a copy of the same book his grandfather used to read to him when he was a child.

"It was really fascinating. It was the exact same book. It really back memories for me."

Staff had a lot of fun discovering the old books which have been placed along the top of book shelves in the new premises in Pukuatua St.

"We are going to keep them. They will add so much to the class of the shop. We spent more time reading them than moving. It was a lot of fun and exciting just to find them."

The books ranged in topics from advice for offices workers to boys meeting girls and history.

"Some of them are timeless. They are written so differently to books today. It was a real treasure trove. They are just timeless and priceless. They are so precious. People really value them," Mr Newman said. Reading them was like taking back a step in time.

"We were so naive. There was a book about email and how it will affect the world and another about the world surviving the 1980s."

Even though the old books will adorn the store belonging to David Thorp and Lynne Jones, Mr Newman believes it is a shame they aren't going to be sold.

"It's a shame because they are priceless but there is a limit to how many priceless things you can have," he said. "It's good to see them out on display and not hidden away."

McLeods Booksellers has been in business since 1896, originally operating as AT Coates.