Bernard Quaritch Ltd

Founded in 1847, Bernard Quaritch is one of the oldest antiquarian and rare book dealers in the world. They work with an extensive range of both private and institutional clients in the UK and overseas.

At their townhouse premises in Mayfair’s South Audley Street, they employ some twelve specialists who handle rare printed books and manuscripts in the following fields: art and architecture; early printed books and medieval manuscripts; English literature and history; European literature; the human sciences; Islamic manuscripts and books on Asia; music; science, medicine and gastronomy; and travel. In the twenty-first century they have also expanded into photography and photobooks, as well as posters and propaganda. Catalogues are issued regularly in all of these areas.

Bernard Quaritch exhibits at the world’s leading book and photo fairs throughout the year including New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and California. Our staff regularly speaks at conferences and book fairs, as well as contributing to scholarly publications.

Quaritch’s valuations department provides formal valuations for probate or insurance purposes, and represents many high-profile institutional and private clients. They also negotiate private-treaty sales of archives in many fields. Auction commissions are accepted in all specialisms and they regularly represent clients in London and New York, and, by special arrangement, across Europe. Quaritch’s publishing arm has been in regular action since their foundation – in the nineteenth century our authors included Michael Faraday, William Morris, Owen Jones, and A.W.N. Pugin, and more recent publications include the groundbreaking three-volume History of Photography in China by Terry Bennett.