Through looking at their book labels, the author describes some of Melbourne's book shops and book sellers including Robertson & Mullens, the Book Lover's Library, Andrade's, Hall's Book Store, Margaret Ward's Bookshop, H. H. Spencer (Hill of Content), the Little Book Room, and the Presbyterian Bookroom and Keswick Bookshops. The article also discusses the John Holroyd collection of book labels held at the State Library of Victoria.