Welcome to
Left On The Shelf
Specialist bookseller of second-hand radical books, with one of the world's best online collections. We sell (and buy) all kinds of radical books, pamphlets, journals and ephemera relating to anarchism, black studies, chartism, colonial theory, communism, feminism, international politics, queer theory, radical history, Soviet studies, trade unions and much, much more.
About Left On The Shelf
Specialist Second Hand Bookseller
Left on the Shelf (LOTS) was set up in 1992 when Dave Cope bought the second-hand stock from Central Books, at the time when the shop in Grays Inn Road was closed. Dave has spent practically all his working life in the radical book trade - from 1975 he managed Progressive Books in Liverpool, before moving to Central Books in London in 1987. Left on the Shelf was a part-time business till he moved to Kendal in 2004. In Autumn 2025 Mark Thwaite, a long-standing LOTS customer, bought the business from Dave and a new chapter begins...
View Our Current Catalogue
Please take some time to browse our current online catalogue.
By appointment
My storeroom is open by arrangement - I do not have a shop. Kendal is very accessible by public transport and is also a lovely town to visit, at the edge of the Lake District.
I am always interested in buying material in my areas of interest - best prices paid. Send me your 'Wants' lists – I always have thousands of titles that are not yet listed.
Research Content
This website also includes some of my research into the history of Radical Bookselling and also the Paris Commune of 1871.
Website Updates
My website will be updated every two months. Please keep checking for updates and new items for sale.
Second Hand Catalogues
I produce catalogues approximately every three months. Given the high cost of printing and postage I prefer to send a pdf version. If you would like to receive the pdf copy please let me know. I will still produce printed copies for those who don't have access to the net and by special request from those who do, but still prefer a hard copy. Please click here to leave your details.
View the current catalogue here.
You will need Adobe Reader to read all downloadable documents on this website.
Donate
Address
Left On The Shelf
Yard 91, 87 Highgate
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4ED
You can get in touch by calling 01539 729599 or dropping us an email.
