TRENT. «The practice of reuse promotes culture, but politics does not enhance us. The provincial leaders don’t listen to us, perhaps we don’t move enough votes.” The president of the Trentino Flea Market Association, Gianni Nicoliniis saddened to note the disinterest of provincial politics towards those who promote non-profit flea markets.
N”and we spoke on Saturday at 23rd Book Reuse Day held under the arcades of via Suffragio in collaboration with the Trento Film Festival and with the support of the Urban Development Service of the Municipality of Trento”. About twenty “stall holders” (as they call themselves) put on display the stalls of old or vintage books, collectible comics, historical newspapers, stamps, banknotes, small objects.
The types of “readings” are disparate: they range from the common used novel worth a few euros, up to the historical book dating back to the seventeenth century, with very valuable illuminated letters and valuable illustrations. There is a widespread presence of large photographic volumes that tell the story of local history, nature and art. The flow of curious people is constant, even if not very numerous: people stop, leaf through the books, inquire about prices. Every now and then some collectors also pop up and take advantage of the opportunity to look for rarities.
«But the main objective of the market is not commercial – specified President Nicolini – We aim to spread the culture of reuse and we also insist a lot on this aspect with our members. When we see that a member tries to be smart by focusing too heavily on the commercial purpose, we can end up with expulsion. This is the case when, for example, he puts evidently new books on sale. If a book is new, it is not used and this goes against our spirit».
For some years, second-hand markets have become a more frequent presence, also by virtue of an increased culture of reuse, but for President Nicolini, politics does not do enough: «We have been contesting the provincial “Olivi” law for years. It provides that in municipalities with over 10 thousand inhabitants there must be eight markets a year, while there are six mandatory markets in municipalities with less than ten thousand inhabitants. But in such small countries there is no demand and for the exhibitors, who are all volunteers, they represent a cost. We ask that the presence in the area be liberalized: fourteen markets a year should also be compulsory, but we must be left free to choose where to hold them.”
We chatted with some of the exhibitors. One of the most passionate is Roberto, from Aldeno, who tells the origin of his interest in used books, in particular for art and nature books: «More than passion, I would speak of “illness” – he said jokingly – I have always collected old books and objects which however have a value as a souvenir. I also notice a certain interest on the part of young people, they stop to leaf through books and magazines, particularly of a historical nature.”
The s is making its debut as an exhibitorhe ignores Marisa who has only recently approached the sale: «People stop to leaf through the illustrated volumes from the 19th century in particular, with splendid bindings, like this “Journey to Spain” illustrated by Doré – he indicated – But I must admit that not many people buy. Indeed, they often offer us the opportunity to sell their volumes. However, there is always some enthusiast who wants to have a collection of valuable books.”
