New Delhi: India’s cricket team toured England in 1946 for its first overseas series after World War II. During the tour, the visitors played three Tests and 29 first-class matches, with all-rounder Vinoo Mankad emerging as its standout performer. Testimonies from that historic tour are now securely preserved in a bookstore in South Delhi, not in a single copy, but in three different versions of the same book.
Located in a residential area in South Extension, New Delhi, a modest board reads “Memoirs of India.” The sign does more than provide directions; it marks the location of stories that go beyond ordinary books. These are rare first editions, many signed by their authors, holding immense historical significance and often valued at thousands, even lakhs of rupees.
“This place is more than a bookshop or a library. It is a curated museum with rare collections of books and maps,” says Rashi Jain Dugar, one of the founders of the store.
Securely placed in a specially designed brown box are three copies of the same book. The collection offers a historical overview of Indian cricket, especially on the origin and growth of the game in India.
Titled ‘Presenting Indian Cricket’, the book specifically references the first Indian tour of England in the summer of 1946. This was the first post-Second World War, pre-independence Indian touring side, comprising a diverse 16-man squad, including legends like Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Vinoo Mankad, and Captain Iftikhar Ali Khan (Nawab of Pataudi).
The three versions are among the rarest items in the store’s collection. One copy contains the original signatures of the entire Indian and England cricket teams. The second copy features stamped signatures of both the teams. The third is one of the earliest editions but carries no signatures.
“This is like a gem for cricket lovers. We preserved all three versions. People come specially to catch a glimpse of the signed copy,” says Dugar.
Three generations, one legacy
Memoirs of India is a third-generation emporium of rare and antiquarian collections run by father Rajiv Jain, son Rishabh Jain, and daughter Rashi Jain Dugar. The journey began in 1967, when her grandfather’s fascination with collecting old books led him to acquire a rare collection from a Parsi doctor.
“My grandfather bought a collection of scarce books from a Parsi physician, which he later discovered included several signed rare books,” added Dugar.
The trio has sourced rare collections from individual owners, private sellers, auctions across India, and exhibition sales in London, Scotland, and other countries. Apart from books, the store also houses a vast collection of old maps of different parts of India and the world.
Among the rarest collections is a first-edition copy of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi, printed by Navajivan Press, Ahmedabad, in 1929.
The book details Gandhi’s life and development of satyagraha, the philosophy of active non-violent resistance that led India’s struggle for independence.
While showcasing the books and explaining the details and rarity of each collection, Rajiv spoke about the challenges of preserving these books, especially in India’s climate and fluctuating temperatures.
“Unfortunately, in India, we have had a very poor tradition of preserving books. Whatever little we have managed to retain is mostly manuscripts. The tropical climate of the country is not very conducive to keeping books for long periods because we didn’t have air conditioning earlier, and paper materials begin deteriorating above 32 degrees Celsius. During the monsoon, the moisture levels also damage the books”, he said. “In European countries, however, temperatures generally remain in the mid-twenties. So, we not only collected these books but also learned how to preserve them in cooler conditions.”
Another rare collection that Dugar picked up is a book on textile collections, originally printed in 1994. Holding up the large A2-sized book with a red cover, she showed its pages filled with illustrations of textile designs and weaving traditions from different parts of India.
Only 300 copies of the book were published, and the store owns copy number 44. They acquired it from a vendor in Gujarat.
“We don’t just collect these books and sell them online or in person. If someone wants to visit, they call us, and we personally assist them, show them all the collections, and help them explore the books,” added Dugar, opening another almirah door as she looked for the next rare treasure to showcase.
Also read: Kuno director summoned after RTIs on Project Cheetah denied citing ‘threat to India’
A rare collection
Memoirs of India showcases its collections on its website, where it not only sells rare books but also purchases them and offers bookbinding and restoration services. The store’s Instagram page, The Art Book Story, features books from its collection along with descriptions, highlighting many of its rare finds.
The store has something for every kind of reader, whether they are cricket enthusiasts, mountain lovers, history buffs, or fans of series and films such as Harry Potter—with rare books covering a wide range of subjects.
The next book Dugar showcases is worth Rs 2.6 lakh—Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling. It is the first edition signed by the author.
The book also contains a special note from its previous owner describing how it was signed. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. The Harry Potter series was later adapted into eight fantasy films, beginning in 2001.
“Every reader will find something fascinating and precious here. These collections are gems—it all depends on who is looking at them,” said Dugar.
Speaking about other rare collections, she mentioned a signed first edition of The Fugitive by Rabindranath Tagore and The Downing Street Years by Margaret Thatcher, also a signed first edition. She added that prices are not always listed on the website because they are negotiable and often depend on the book’s condition.
“Sometimes the condition of a book changes over time, and we have to revise its price. That’s why we don’t mention the price of every book on the website,” she added.
Also read: Builders act like ‘zamindars’ in Haryana, apartment owners’ body says
The living archive
The store has three rooms filled with rare collections, with walls adorned with paintings and maps collected by the trio. Jain walks through the second room, lined with military books.
Picking out a thick off-white deluxe edition with gold designs and the author’s signature, he points to The Armies of India. Illustrated by Major A C Lovett and written by Major G F MacMunn, the book was published in 1911 by Adam and Charles Black, London. It documents the history of the British Indian Army during the height of the British Empire and features 72 watercolour illustrations, depicting the traditional uniforms and equipment of various Indian regiments and British-officer units.
“These kinds of books not only hold importance for the store but are also very special to us. We have not only collected and preserved them, but we have also read them and gone through every detail ourselves,” said Jain.
During the store’s three-generation journey, Dugar and Jain have witnessed it evolve—not necessarily in its architecture, but in the generations of visitors who walk through its doors.
Earlier, the store was primarily visited by senior collectors, historians and researchers. Today, young readers curious about history and literature come to explore its shelves.
“Earlier, the store was mostly visited by intellectuals and rare book collectors. Now, even students come in groups to explore the collection. Even if they don’t buy anything, seeing more young people and children take an interest encourages us to continue preserving and expanding the collection,” said Dugar.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)