Te Arahi Bryers got a whiff of a bargain, something of special interest. It was just one book amongst the countless thousands on offer.

It prompted him to turn up to the Tauranga Harbour City Lions book fair on a reconnaissance trip a week-and-a-half early.

It was the third volume of the ‘Picturesque Atlas of Australasia', published 1886, that caught his eye. 'I saw the story about it in The Weekend Sun. It was the volume pertaining to New Zealand. 'But just the first three pages.”

'I'm fascinated with NZ history and my history, it's my thing,” says the Ngapuhi descendant. And there's a beautifully fine engraving of Samuel Marsden, the man credited with introducing Christianity to New Zealand, stepping ashore in the Bay of Islands.

That's Te Arahi's papa kainga.

'I particularly like the way it is written – it feels like an independent take on history rather than another Pakeha viewpoint.” And when the balloon goes up at the book fair at 5pm next Friday evening, November 11, Te Arahi might just put in a tender for the book. It's expected to fetch about $100. 'That would be about what I am prepared to pay.”

Perhaps that book is pre-destined for his bookshelf.

The book fair has been a mammoth operation for The Tauranga Harbour City Lions – 16 women, two days a week, three hours a day, since the middle of July.

After collecting, vetting, cataloguing and pricing every book collected during four months Diane Forrest still had the appetite to read a few. She was introduced to Santa Montefiore. 'A favourite, a British writer, from a women's point of view. Food and fashion and Greece and Italy.” As other Lions did, Diane would find a gem, take it home and read it and then return it for the sale. You have to stay connected to your product.

Next Friday, November 11, at 5pm the doors will be thrown open at 168 Devonport Rd, the trestle tables will be depleted by the book fiends and then replenished. Books, many books, $3, $4, $5, cheap as chips. n. 'A good quality of books this year,” says Lion Christine Currie. 'A lot of hardbacks, not so many paperbacks.”

The sale goes on until 9pm Friday night, November 11 and from 8am-5pm Saturday and Sunday, November 12-13. And when it's all over the Lions will have a nice bank balance to redirect to some deserving charitable cause. And start planning again. Maybe.

The sale also throws up some rare books like an aged Bible.

'Perhaps you should take it home and read it,” a helping hands tells The Weekend Sun photographer. 'Don't need to, I wrote it!” he replies.

The Tauranga Harbour City Lions annual book fair is on at 168 Devonport Rd on Friday, November 11. Friday night it's open from 5pm-9pm and on Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13 from 8am-5pm.