ONLY $9.90 DELIVERY INFO
The Penguin Books journey started in 1935 with a simple, but controversial idea - that quality literature should cost no more than a packet of cigarettes (and these days a Penguin book is significantly cheaper than a pack!). Despite scepticism from publishers and booksellers, the Penguin founder, Allen Lane, was proved right. Within a year, three million Penguins had made it to readers’ shelves.
The paperback jacket design in orange and white bands became iconic throughout the decades not only for the pleasure to be found in reading but also in connecting people with books that spark ideas and fuel debates.
90 years on and the Penguin mission remains the same. Penguin makes books for everyone. Because a book can change anyone.
Images (top left clockwise): Allen Lane with a penguin in a promotional photo; Experimental layout by Jan Tschichold for the Penguin horizontal cover grid, 1948; Early sketch of the Penguin logo that was later adapted by Jan Tschichold in 1949 to more closely resemble the logo used today.
Ron and Eve Abbey have had a long association with Penguin Books. In the years prior to starting his own bookshops, Ron Abbey moved into real book paradise when he gained the job as Manager (and almost sole employee) of a small bookshop opened by Colletts, an all-Penguin bookshop in Charing Cross Road. There was a great respect and affection and appreciation for Penguin Books at that time - you could perhaps talk about a ‘Penguin Generation’ – self-educated people who did it all by buying the economical, high-quality books flooding out of Harmondsworth. The Penguin logo became one of the most well-known and revered trademarks in the world.
Following their emigration to Australia in 1964 - as 'Ten Pound Poms' - Ron and his wife Eve went about opening four Penguin Bookshops: a tiny one in Rowe Street before it was demolished to make way for the MLC Centre; the Paddington Penguin in Oxford Street; Penguin Bookshop at 66 King Street; and finally at 131 York Street as part of the larger Abbey’s store. At one stage, we stocked every single Penguin title, but nowadays we can’t quite say that!
Images (top left clockwise): Penguin Bookshop at 66 King Street, 1983; Historic Penguin window display – Abbey’s 1995; Eve Abbey with Penguin executives Peter Blake and Peter Field at a Penguin function at Abbey’s, 1996
@abbeysbookshop • @galaxybookshopsydney • @languagebookcentre
Begin earning points straight away with your first order.
To join ABBEY'S REWARDS online, just login and use ORDER NOTES in Checkout to say 'I want to join Abbey's Rewards'.
To join in-store - just ask our staff at the counter.
So many beautiful books pass through our doors. These sumptuous titles are perfect for revelling in the photography in a quiet moment or presenting as a gift that will be remembered.
Looking for a special gift - perhaps for yourself? Many authors have walked through our doors (and browsed our shelves) at 131 York Street in the heart of Sydney.
Look for the green SIGNED tag - while stock lasts.
We have two ways you can make someone feel special - an Abbey's Gift Voucher or Abbey's Gift Card. Gift Vouchers are redeemable online or in-store and have no expiry date.
OUR ONLINE GIFT VOUCHERS are a fast and simple way to email your gift - either directly or send later on. Or perhaps you want to print it yourself and pop into a card. Try it out - just enter the amount and type in the recipient's name, and your name and message.
OUR GIFT CARDS remain popular with customers who like to give something tangible. Gift Cards are credit card-sized and fit easily into your purse or wallet and come enclosed within an attractive presentation slip. They are redeemable online or in-store. Gift Cards have no expiry date and are mailed out Express Post. View the range of gift values we have online, or if you want any other value, please phone 02 9264 3111 or ask in-store.
Find more info about redeeming vouchers and cards in our FAQ: REDEEMING VOUCHERS
If you're just discovering Abbey's (WELL HELLO THERE!) we welcome you to take a closer look.
We've been around since 1968 and deliver all over Australia (and the world!) from our distinctive collection of books sourced from around the globe.
If you live in Sydney we also offer click and collect from our store in the centre of Sydney CBD at 131 York Street (near QVB).
- Agriculture
- Antiques & Collectables
- Architecture
- Art
- Astronomy & Cosmology
- Biography & Memoir
- Business, Management, Industry
- Chemistry
- Children & Teens
- Cooking
- Crime & Mystery
- Dance
- Design
- DIY
- Earth & Enviromental Sciences
- Economics
- Education
- Encyclopaedias & Reference
- ESL
- Fantasy
- Engineering
- Fashion
- Fiction & Literature
- Film
- Finance & Accounting
- Food & Drink
- Gardening
- Gift Games Puzzles
- Handicrafts
- Health & Wellbeing
- History
- House & Home
- Horror
- HSC Study Guides
- Humour, Satire, Parody
- Information Technology
- Kid's Books
- Languages: Learning, Teaching, Reading
- Law
- Life Sciences
- Literary Studies
- Mathematics
- Medical Science
- Music
- Parenting
- Performing Arts
Our GALAXY Bookshop (upstairs in Abbey's Bookshop, 131 York Street) is Australia's specialist store for science fiction and fantasy books. Novels, graphic novels, toys, games & merchandise for Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Game Worlds and more!
Ask our knowledgeable GALAXY team - contact them by email, phone, facebook (see contact links at the bottom of this page).
Many of our customers do love a puzzle! So Laura and her happy helpers keep an eye out for the interesting & quirky, the fun & useful - all manner of knick-knacks and gift ideas that don't come in the form of a book. Enjoy!
We definitely appreciate the support you're showing by buying from us and supporting an independent bookshop with actual booksellers in a real bookshop. Like schools, universities and libraries themselves, bookshops are a bulwark for our culture.
If you are ordering for a school, university or library for the first time please look here for information about your account...
131 York Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
