Rare & precious books
Our core expertise: identifying the edition, collating the copy, and situating its place in the history of bibliophily and of ideas.
The Bookshop
Free valuation and appraisal of antiquarian books
Rare books — early as well as modern —, manuscripts, autograph letters, signed documents, autographs of noted personalities: the bookshop appraises and values your pieces with the rigour and exacting standards required of a member of the SLAM and the LILA. Simple valuations and full appraisals are free of charge, with no obligation to sell.
Request an appraisal for my piece
First response within 48 hours — a few photos and a brief description are all we need.
Our Areas of Expertise
Manuscripts
Reading, dating and contextualising — from a single piece to a complete collection, from a writer's draft to a laboratory notebook.
Autograph letters
Authenticating a hand, situating a letter within a correspondence and within a life — our favourite exercise.
Signed documents
Verifying signatures and conventions — from chancery documents to deeds and family papers.
Inscriptions by Notable Figures
The value of an inscription lies in its context: recipient, date, circumstance, rarity.
Libraries & Collections
Taking inventory, sorting, and advising on dispersal — guidance for entire collections, from family libraries to estates.
Areas of Expertise
Our field of expertise spans many centuries of written and printed objects — from pre-Gutenberg manuscripts, to fifteenth-century incunabula, to first editions of the twenty-first century, from scientific manuscripts to inscribed photographs.
Antiquarian & Rare Books
- Pre-Gutenberg manuscripts (before 1450)
- Incunabula (c. 1450-1500)
- Post-incunabula (1501-1530)
- Early printed books (1531-1800)
- Modern books (1801-1945)
- Illustrated books, large-paper copies & limited deluxe editions
- Contemporary books (1945 to the present) & fine bindings
- Rare books & unique items, all periods
- Inscribed copies
Autographs & Manuscripts
- Autograph letters signed (A.L.S.)
- Literary manuscripts & drafts
- Scientific & historical manuscripts
- Autograph musical scores
- Documents & pieces signed (D.S.)
Libraries & Collections
- Private libraries
- Thematic collections
- Estates & inheritance divisions
- Association archives
The travel arrangements are organised and covered by the bookshop — never by the seller.
Your piece falls outside these categories? Tell us about it: that is precisely the nature of rare objects.
How It Works
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Initial Contact
Via our form: author, title, date — usually found on the title page, though it's not a problem if you can't locate it —, your desired selling price if you have one, and a short description of any notable features (original drawings, inscription, defects…). A few photos will do the rest.
Access the form -
Initial appraisal
Initial response within 48 hours, followed by a preliminary opinion and estimate by e-mail within five business days.
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In-Depth Appraisal
If the item warrants it, we arrange an appointment to examine it in person: collation, authentication, and provenance research where necessary.
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Proposal
Firm purchase offer, or guidance tailored to your needs: keep, insure, pass on or sell — the decision is yours, with no obligation.
Our packages
Free of charge
Basic appraisal
- Preliminary opinion based on photos
- Price estimate
- Initial response within 48 hours
Free
Full appraisal
- Physical examination by appointment
- Authentication
- Provenance research where necessary
- Precise market value appraisal
Bespoke assignments
- Inventory & sorting of collections
- Global or selective appraisal
- On-site visits
- Advice on dispersal
For groups of items: purchase of entire libraries and collections, sales of libraries, collections, and estates.
Alexis Noqué
Bookseller — member of the SLAM and the LILA (ILAB)
Every request is examined with care, passion and respect for your property: edition, print run, condition, provenance — everything is scrutinised to give you a precise idea of the value of your piece.
Initial response within 48 hours, detailed valuation within five working days — free of charge, with no obligation.
What We Do Not Appraise
Paperbacks, standard reprints, book-club volumes and encyclopaedias: their market value does not warrant item-by-item valuation. Nor do we appraise incomplete sets (missing volumes), copies in poor condition (detached boards, torn or missing leaves), or numbered editions with very large print runs (several thousand copies) — unless some feature makes the copy unique: an original watercolour, an inscription, or a prestigious provenance. If in doubt, do write to us — we will reply promptly.
Have your piece appraised
It only takes a few minutes — free estimate, with no obligation to sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send my piece by post for appraisal?
We advise against it without prior agreement: please start with the form and a few photographs — these are almost always sufficient for an initial assessment. If sending the item subsequently proves useful, we will agree on the arrangements together (packaging, insurance, tracking).
Do we offer consignment sales?
We favour outright purchase, with immediate payment. Consignment sale may nonetheless be worthwhile for certain items — we discuss this openly during the appraisal.
Do you travel for an entire library or collection?
Yes: this is precisely the purpose of our bespoke assignments. We travel to inventory, sort and appraise collections — family libraries, established collections, estates — in Paris and beyond, depending on the scale of the collection.
How long does a full appraisal take?
The appraisal appointment generally takes an hour. When further research is required — provenance, comparison of impressions, auction records — allow anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the piece.
Does the appraisal commit me to sell?
No, never. Valuation and appraisal are free of charge and entail no obligation whatsoever: you remain free to keep, insure or sell your piece, whether with us or elsewhere.
Do you appraise modern items?
Yes. Our field extends from medieval manuscripts to first editions of the twenty-first century — inscribed copies, limited deluxe editions, modern manuscripts and correspondence hold as much a place as antiquarian books.
How can I tell if my book is valuable?
Five criteria matter most: the edition (first or later), the printing (large-paper copy, numbered copy), the condition, the provenance, and the presence of an inscribed by the author. The simplest approach is to send us a few photos via the form — the appraisal is free of charge.
Read our guide: how much is my antique book worth?How can I tell if my autograph letter has value?
Author, content, recipient, date, rarity, authenticity, provenance: the criteria a bookseller examines to appraise an autograph letter — and why the signature alone is not enough.
Read our guide: how much is my autograph letter worth?Do you travel for appraisals?
We welcome visitors to the bookshop, in Paris, by appointment. For libraries, collections and estates, we travel to view the material — travel costs are covered by the bookshop.
Have an item you'd like appraised?
Photos and a few lines are all it takes — free estimate, no obligation.