Welcome!

We have dedicated this site to providing a focus on particular aspects of our business - books, portraits, prints and maps. We haven't attempted to duplicate the searching and ordering facilities of the generalised book-selling sites where we list our interesting stock of old, used, rare, antiquarian, fine and out-of-print items.

Click on Contents to see our list of topics. To read the pages like a book, from beginning to end, use the Next Page link at the bottom of each page.

What's New?

For those who have visited our site before, we'd like to mention some new developments:

We have continued the expansion of our stock of  antique, engraved portraits. We now have over 7,000 items for sale online. Have a look at what is available either by category or by surname. If you can't find the portrait you want and there is something particular you are looking for (like a person, profession or surname), email us with details and we will let you know if we have anything.

Old Customers

If you have dealt with us before and want to have your suspicions confirmed, have a look at the Meet The Team page and fit a face to a name!

Use the Search option to check our complete online inventory of over 20,000 items. This will take you to one of the generalised book-selling sites we belong to. Alternatively, if you see something you would like to purchase here, on our site, you can contact us directly.

Quote

Ballade of the Book-Hunter by Andrew Lang

In torrid heats of late July,

In March, beneath the bitter bise,

He book-hunts while the loungers fly, -

He book-hunts, though December freeze;

In breeches baggy at the knees,

And heedless of the public jeers,

For these, for these, he hoards his fees,

Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs.

No dismal stall escapes his eye,

He turns o'er tomes of low degrees,

There soiled romanticists may lie,

Or Restoration comedies;

Each tract that flutters in the breeze

For him is charged with hopes and fears,

In mouldy novels fancy sees

Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs.

With restless eyes that peer and spy,

Sad eyes that heed not skies nor trees,

In dismal nooks he loves to pry,

Whose motto evermore is Spes!

But ah! the fabled treasure flees;

Grown rarer with the fleeting years,

In rich men's shelves they take their ease, -

Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs!

                      ENVOY.

Prince, all the things that teaze and please, -

Fame, hope, wealth, kisses, cheers, and tears,

What are they but such toys as these -

Aldines, Bodonis, Elzevirs?