I was given a gift voucher recently and opted to treat myself to another book. I already have loads of bonsai books but just can’t help myself. I saw this one advertised in a mag and decided I would never spend that sort of money on a book if it was my own money (£35) so out came the voucher and a few days later it hit the door mat.

Covering 10 years of the Noelanders Trophy, I was expecting plenty of top quality photos of top quality bonsai. This was certainly the case. The early years had a few poorer quality photos but the vast majority of the book looks like this.

The one issue I have with the presentation is the size of a few of the photos. some of the pages seem to be doing the ‘arty’ look with small photos on a nearly empty page. When I study pics of trees I like to look at the detail of the work and design. What’s the point of leaving negative space in a book!? Below is an example of what I mean. How can you study a Shohin display when it measures just over an inch across!!

This is a nice Gallery type book with many top quality bonsai to admire and return to again and again. It’s great to look back on Europe’s best Artists and Bonsai and see how they change and progress over a 10 year period. I only wish they had opted for full page shots. I feel it a tad on the pricey side, but I’ll let you be the judge.