Robert Humm books

[Ashley Hill]

Hello,just a quick question. Has anyone purchased books from Robert Humm? They have an out of print book that I require but have never had dealings with them. Are they reliable?

 

[bspahh]

Hello,just a quick question. Has anyone purchased books from Robert Humm? They have an out of print book that I require but have never had dealings with them. Are they reliable?

He has a good reputation. I've visited his shop and followed him on Twitter for a while, and he seems like a really nice guy. He sent out a catalogue a few weeks ago and wrote that he was thinking of retiring soon, as he is in his 70s and that he might publish one more catalogue.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Sorry no. Once had a look round the bookshop when it was at Stamford station, but I think they've moved since.

 

[Gloster]

He is supposed to have a very good reputation, although I have never dealt with him. The fact that he operates out of a shop suggests that he likely to be reliable. I have been meaning to visit his shop for several years as I have to go to Stamford sometime to sign a document, but the other person involved won’t fix a date (they will lose more than me due to delays). When I asked about tickets to Stamford in Ryde Esplanade, the girl told me where the hospital is: it turned she had had to visit someone there.

 

[bspahh]

I am completely confident that he will be honest. Its always possible that he could get ill. I visited the shop about a year ago, and it was tidy and well organised. The shop has limited opening hours so you should check, and possibly book an appointment if you plan to visit.

 

[Magdalia]

Robert Humm has been in business since before the internet. The shop moved into the town in 2016 having been at the station for more than a quarter of a century.

I also have never dealt with him, but he has a good reputation, apart perhaps for being a bit on the expensive side, which is because he has a shop not just mail order.

And if you are going to the shop, Stamford is a nice place to visit.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Thanks for your replies. I’ll be using his mail order service which is advertised as £10 delivery. It’s a book I’ve been after for a while so I don’t mind the fee as long as it arrives.

 

[Taunton]

Decent chap. Have bought from him since, before being at the railway station in Stamford, he had a shop in Chiswick. How long ago was that?

 

[bspahh]

Decent chap. Have bought from him since, before being at the railway station in Stamford, he had a shop in Chiswick. How long ago was that?

https://www.roberthummbooks.co.uk/acatalog/About.html says that he started selling railway books in 1974. He ran Wyvern Books in Chiswick until 1987 and then moved to Stamford station. They moved to the current shop in 2015.

 

[Western Sunset]

I find the best website to compare book prices and find out-of-print stuff is https://www.bookfinder.com

 

[swanhill41]

A1 seller..Dealt with him a lot from 2005 till he closed the station shop...He's a great character to chat too,having a very pronounced voice accent!..Very surprised he bought the shop as he was in early 70's at the time and frankly he was surprised how much work it was...As a person and seller he is the best...Note he never attempts to list online more than a small percentage of his stock,so it always pays to ring him and check whether he has it in stock..

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yesterday, in a few of the replies to a "What station" thread on Twitter, Claire Humm has announced that she and Robert are retiring and will be closing the shop down. There is no specific date given as yet, but it is clear that it will be before the end of the year.

It would therefore be a good idea for those who have been meaning to look to acquire a few books from them, particularly of the more obscure publications they specialise in, to contact them sooner rather than later to see if they have the desired volume(s) in stock.

This will truly be the end of an era in specialist railway bookshops...

We shall retire - as we should have done long ago - and put our feet up

Thank you! The truth is we should have retired years ago, like sensible people. This year we shall really do it. We'll miss the shop though.

 

[Taunton]

Good luck to Robert and Claire. I have been dealing with them on random occasions ever since they had the shop in Chiswick.

 

[matt]

Reopened for @bspahh to post an update

 

[bspahh]

I got this in the post with details of the closing down sale for Robert Humm, with 30% discounts from the marked price for new stock, and 50% for old and recent. I can't see them at www.roberthumm.co.uk

ROBERT HUMM & CO RETIREMENT SALE
ALL STOCK MUST GO

Thousands of good clean railway books British and foreign, booklets, time tables, bound periodicals, some other subjects, etc.

Old and recent: 50% off marked prices. New: 30% off cover prices For personal callers

Plus some special bargains

Terms: cards, cash or cheques

CALLERS BY APPOINTMENT PLEASE

Robert Humm & Co 59 Scotgate Stamford PE9 2YQ
Tel: 01780 766266
Email: [email protected]
"Our last hurrah"