Book lovers in Malaysia have a new reason to make a trip to The Library by BookXcess at Sunway Square Mall.
London-based specialist bookseller Goldsboro Books has officially opened The Goldsboro Room, marking the brand’s first permanent home outside the United Kingdom.
And yes, it’s open 24 hours a day.
The 140-square-foot room houses around 2,500 books across 150 signed and collectible titles, with prices starting from RM100.
For those unfamiliar with Goldsboro Books, the London bookseller is known for its beautifully produced first editions, many of which come with author signatures, individual numbering, sprayed or illustrated page edges, special bindings and exclusive covers.
Basically, these are books you’ll probably want to display rather than leave buried on a bookshelf.
From London To Malaysia
Founded in London in 1999 by David Headley and Daniel Gedeon, Goldsboro Books has become one of the world’s recognised specialists in signed first editions.
The bookseller works closely with authors and publishers to produce exclusive editions, while championing emerging writers and building a global community of readers and collectors.
Its arrival in Malaysia also makes these editions considerably easier for local collectors to discover, without the usual overseas shipping, waiting and ordering process.
The partnership with BookXcess brings together two very different sides of the book world affordable reads and highly collectible editions under one roof.
So whether you’re looking for your next everyday read or a first edition worth keeping for years, there’s now a place for both.
What Makes A Goldsboro Book So Special?
For starters, you’ll notice the details before you even open the book.
Many Goldsboro editions feature sprayed or illustrated page edges, exclusive covers, gold foiling and special designs created specifically for each release.
Every book in The Goldsboro Room is a hardcover, with many available in strictly limited quantities.
Most are also first editions, with many personally signed by the authors. Some are individually numbered too, meaning your copy could literally be one of only a few hundred made.
The collection covers everything from crime and thrillers to fantasy, historical fiction and literary fiction, featuring BookTok favourites, award-winning authors and exciting new voices.
Titles currently featured include Broken Country, The Bewitching, Six Wild Crowns, Nesting and Death of the Author.
And perhaps the biggest surprise?
The prices.
Most books in The Goldsboro Room are priced between RM150 and RM200, putting signed and limited first editions within reach of readers who want to own something a little more special.
The opening also featured a special showcase of nearly 60 books from Goldsboro’s collection, including some seriously recognisable names.
Think a signed copy of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, first editions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, signed Cormoran Strike novels by Robert Galbraith, an Ian Fleming James Bond first edition and Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
BookXcess co-founder Andrew Yap and Goldsboro Books co-founder David Headley also took part in a fireside conversation about the future of physical books, collectible editions and what the partnership could mean for readers across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
For Headley, Malaysia was a natural choice for Goldsboro’s first permanent international home.
“There is an extraordinary enthusiasm for books here,” he said, adding that the goal has always been to create books that people not only want to read, but also want to keep.
And now, Malaysians can experience that without making the trip to London.
The Goldsboro Room is now open 24/7 at The Library by BookXcess, Sunway Square Mall.
While the launch showcase has ended, a selection of its rarest highlights will remain in Malaysia until sold.
Among the titles available are first and signed editions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Animal Farm, The Kite Runner and selected rare titles by Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming and Christopher Paolini, including a signed first edition of Eragon.
So, if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a book that feels more like a collector’s piece than just another paperback, you might want to know where your next stop is.