"One of the 10 best rare bookshops in Britain" [The Independent] "One of the best independent retailers in the country" [Royal Society of Literature] All about us: Established in York in 1948, with over 70 years of experience we are always happy to provide professional and confidential advice - whether you are an experienced collector or a first time buyer or seller. Rare and Secondhand Books, Manuscripts & Documents, designer cards, and in winter a real coal fire. There is on-street parking right outside our door - a rarity for York! SELLING? If you are thinking of selling or thinning out your collections - or just have individual books of interest - then contact me - I buy books in all quantities and travel extensively throughout the country. I am also always keen to purchase any manuscripts, diaries, journals, inventories, estate plans &c pre 1850. Rare Book Specialisms: Italy & the Grand Tour: I am currently working on a growing collection of over 300 original grand tour books & manuscripts from 1600-1880. Artists' Manuals of Instruction: A long standing area of expertise, and we have probably the largest unpublished reference database of these books. VISIT THE DRAWING BOOK PROJECT. Women & Science: A collection in process, with over 200 books by 18th & 19th century woman botanists, scientists &c. Gardening: We are preparing a series of five catalogues on 18th & 19th century gardening design & history. Also a separate collection on fern collecting. Shells & the Seaside: An active collection of virtually every 19th century work on sea-side activities - shells, seaweed, &c. Bookselling, Libraries & the Book Trade: A growing collection of over 200 items from the 18th century onwards Manuscripts & Ephemera: Regular catalogues issued. Country House Guides & Picturesque Travel. Cataloguing, Consultancy, & Commission An established part of my business is in cataloguing collections (for both the trade and private customers), offering consultancy advice, valuations for insurance or probate, and successfully handling significant items & specialist collections on a private commission basis: For nearly 40 years I have worked with major institutions and collectors in developing their libraries. We stock original p Welcome Back! The shop is now open: Hours: 1-4pm Monday - Friday. Extended opening to roll out over the next month or so. You can also order on-line, and we post out worldwide every day. Join our mailing list for regular catalogues of rare books. If you have books to sell do contact us, as we are now making regular calls. See our most recent acquisitions or browse our current stock files WATERCOLOURS & DRAWINGS. We now have a small selection of unframed 19th century watercolours and drawings, and are issuing lists of new arrivals. EBAY: Visit our store on ebay, with thousands of items for sale, the majority not listed elsewhere. 17th century / 18th century / 19th century and lots more.... new items are added daily. Rare Books & Manuscripts ~ I issue regular catalogues - fully illustrated in colour. These books get their very first appearance in the catalogues. Rare Book Catalogue 111 (April 2021) Rare Book Catalogue 110 (Feb 2021) Rare Book Catalogue 109 (Oct 2020) Rare Book Catalogue 108 (Sept 2020) Rare Book Catalogue 107 (June 2020) Rare Book Catalogue 106 (Jan 2020) Rare Book Catalogue 105 (Nov 2019) Rare Book Catalogue 104 (Sept 2019) Manuscripts - archive Monthly Lists ~ I send out a monthly list of 10 interesting recent acquisitions. These have not appeared anywhere else before, and there will only ever be 10 on each list. Large Stock of quality secondhand books: Book fairs - I exhibit at the following major ABA & PBFA Fairs each year, Cambridge, London, Chelsea, Oxford, & York. complimentary tickets for all fairs In 2017 I was delighted to announce that I established the York University Book Collecting Prize. It is open to all students at the University of York, and offers the opportunity to win a £500 cash prize, and to progress to the ABA National Book Collecting Prize. copyright: Ken Spelman Books Ltd, 2021 / GDPR
<
welcome to
Ken Spelman Books
thank you for visiting us on
"A true treasure trove" [The Times]
70 Micklegate, York YO1 6LF ~ Tel: 07960 350909 / or 01904 624414 (1-4pm weekdays only)
I joined Spelmans in 1979, becoming a partner in 1984, and since 2012 I've owned the business with my wife Nicki.
I have served on the Council of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, and was Chairman of the ABA Rare Book Fair London from 2014-2018. I am currently Fair Manager of the PBFA York National Book Fair, the largest fair of its kind in the U.K.
contact: kenspelmanbooks@gmail.com
.jpg)
rints by a number of leading modern printmakers, including Andrew Waddington, Neil Bousfield, Angela Harding, Tom Frost, Hannah West, Matte Stephens, Alan Turnbull, Tessa Asquith-Lamb. Also the shop now stocks a superb range of designer cards, and we even offer a free wrapping service for purchases. Also books by Mark Hearld, and his wonderful flying bird cut-outs.
Spelman's Book Voucher: Buy one below and use anytime against a future purchase.
.jpg)
UPDATE:
manuscripts & documents / ephemera & objects
Theology / Philosophy / Literature & Poetry / Latin & Greek
York & Yorkshire prints and engravings / Yorkshire books
Drawings & Watercolours / Private Press Books / Women
The Bronte Family
The Brontes
Polar Travel & Mountaineering
The River Thames
Art & Design
Manuscripts & Ephemera
York & Yorkshire
Books from a private library
17th & 18th century Philosophy & Theology.
The John Stephens Library, Part Two
Highlight items sold
.jpg)
