Bernard Quaritch
The world's oldest and most distinguished antiquarian bookseller, est. 1847.
Bernard Quaritch — The World's Oldest Antiquarian Bookseller
Bernard Quaritch Ltd is the oldest antiquarian bookselling firm in the world, founded in London in 1847 by Bernard Alexander Christian Quaritch. In the nearly 180 years since, the firm has issued over 1,400 catalogues, handled six separate copies of the Gutenberg Bible, and built a reputation as the foremost name in rare books and manuscripts. Operating today from premises near Berkeley Square in London, Quaritch continues to buy, sell, and publish in the field its founder effectively defined.
The Founder
Bernard Quaritch was born in 1819 in Worbis, a small town near Gottingen in Germany. After apprenticing with booksellers in Nordhausen and Berlin, he left for London in 1842, aged 23. He worked for several years in the London book trade before establishing his own business in October 1847 with modest capital and a shop off Leicester Square. That same month, he issued his first catalogue — the beginning of a series that now numbers in the thousands.
Quaritch had an extraordinary eye for important books and the ambition to trade at the highest level. By around 1858, he was regularly purchasing rare books, and within forty years he had handled six separate copies of the Gutenberg Bible (also known as the Mazarin Bible) — a feat that speaks to both the scale of his operations and his position at the center of the European rare book market. By the time of his death in 1899, Bernard Quaritch had built the most extensive enterprise in antiquarian books in the world.
The Firm Today
Bernard Quaritch Ltd continues to operate as both a dealer and publisher. The firm buys and sells rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints spanning every subject and period, from medieval illuminated manuscripts to modern first editions. As a publisher, Quaritch produces scholarly works related to the history of books and collecting. The firm is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (ABA), which was founded in 1906 — and of which Quaritch was a founding member — and of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB). The firm is also a member of BADA.
| Category | Examples | Period Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts | Illuminated manuscripts, early printed books | Pre-1500 to 16th century |
| Early Printed Books | Incunabula, 16th–17th century imprints | 15th–17th century |
| Travel & Exploration | Voyage accounts, maps, natural history | 16th–19th century |
| English Literature | First editions, association copies | 17th–20th century |
| Science & Medicine | Major scientific texts, medical treatises | Various periods |
| Photography & Prints | Early photographs, fine prints | 19th–20th century |
How Bernard Quaritch Works
The firm operates from its London premises and through regular catalogues — a tradition unbroken since 1847. Books and manuscripts are available for viewing by appointment or at book fairs, where Quaritch is a regular exhibitor. The firm both buys and sells: it acquires material from private libraries, estates, institutions, and at auction, and sells to collectors, libraries, and universities worldwide. Catalogues, both printed and online, remain central to the business. Each entry provides detailed bibliographic description, condition notes, and provenance information.
Who Should Approach Bernard Quaritch
Quaritch serves serious book collectors, institutional libraries building rare book collections, scholars seeking specific texts, and estates looking to sell important libraries. The firm's depth of expertise is particularly relevant for collectors of medieval manuscripts, early printed books, and important literary and scientific texts. Libraries and universities worldwide maintain ongoing acquisition relationships with the firm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Founded in October 1847, Bernard Quaritch Ltd is the oldest continuously operating antiquarian bookselling firm in the world. The firm was also a founding member of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association when it was established in 1906.
Quaritch deals across a wide spectrum, but its most significant sales have historically included medieval illuminated manuscripts, incunabula (books printed before 1501), and landmark scientific and literary texts. The founder himself handled six copies of the Gutenberg Bible over the course of his career.
Yes. Quaritch regularly acquires rare books, manuscripts, and prints from private collectors, estates, and institutions. Contact the firm with a description of the material; they can provide initial assessments remotely and arrange in-person viewing for significant collections.
While the firm regularly handles material at the top of the market, Quaritch's catalogues include items at a range of price points. The firm deals in everything from medieval manuscripts valued in the hundreds of thousands to more modestly priced antiquarian books and prints.
The firm is based in London, near Berkeley Square. Quaritch also exhibits at major book fairs internationally and maintains an active online presence with searchable catalogues.
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