BOOKS

Antiquarian and Rare Books

This category brings together antiquarian and rare books spanning five centuries of printing and publishing, from the incunabula of the earliest printed era through to the illustrated volumes of the early 20th century. These works represent the full diversity of the antiquarian book trade — atlases and geographical compendia, natural history volumes, travel narratives, scientific treatises, illustrated periodicals and the decorated bindings and fine typography that distinguish the most collectable examples of the bookmaker’s art.

Antiquarian atlases occupy a position of particular significance within this collection. The great atlas publications of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries — the works of Ortelius, Mercator, Blaeu, Jansson and their successors — are among the most sought-after objects in the antiquarian book market, combining cartographic importance with exceptional standards of production. These volumes, many of them hand-coloured and elaborately decorated, represent the peak of early modern book-making as well as foundational documents in the history of geographic knowledge.

Natural history volumes form another major area of the antiquarian book collection. The illustrated natural history publications of the 18th and 19th centuries — works by Buffon, Gould, Audubon and their contemporaries — combined scientific observation with artistic skill of the highest order, producing books that remain objects of great beauty as well as historical significance. Many of the individual prints available elsewhere in this collection derive from precisely these volumes, and the books themselves, when available, represent an opportunity to acquire works of major collector importance.

Travel narratives and voyage accounts constitute a third significant category. The illustrated accounts of Cook’s voyages, Flinders’s circumnavigation, Humboldt’s South American travels and the great expeditions of the 19th century produced books that are both primary historical documents and finely produced illustrated works. These volumes are collected by institutions and private collectors for their historical content, their illustrations and their role in shaping European understanding of the wider world.

Rare books at Antique Print & Map Room are offered in a range of conditions and price points, from working copies of significant publications to fine examples suitable for serious collectors. Each is described accurately and offered with the knowledge that comes from decades of specialist experience in the antiquarian book and print trade.