Biblio, Bibliopoly, Bibliophile: Just Who Are These B's?
- by Michael Stillman
Bibliopoly provides an uncluttered search for high-end material
Bibliopoly. This is another listing site, but it's like none of the others we have mentioned so far. This is not a site for quantity. It is not a site for used books. This is a site for rare and collectible books, and for collectors whose means allow them to focus more on the best than the best price. In speaking of what type of books their customers may collect, Bibliopoly says, "They might, for example, be interested in incunables (i.e. date-range 1455-1500), they might want books printed in Toulouse or by Aldus, or early seventeenth century books on social reform, or books written in Greek or Swedish...." Does that sound like the typical Amazon shopper? I think not. And the average Amazon shopper might not even appreciate the fact that this site is available in five languages.
Bibliopoly was developed by Bernard Quaritch, Ltd., of London, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious booksellers. If Biblio is at a disadvantage for having only 2,100 booksellers, then how about Bibliopoly with just 108? The answer is no. As stated, Bibliopoly is not trying to compete for the most listings. It just wants the best, or highest end ones. A quick perusal of its dealer list, and any perusal of this dealer list will be quick, reveals many of the best-known names from around the world. You may not find Fred's Bookshop from East Oshkosh here, but you will see names like Librairie Chamonal, Antiquariaat Forum, Hordern House, William Reese, Martayan Lan, Maggs Bros., 19th Century Shop, and Bernard Shapero here. These dealers don't sell used books, and they don't sell much that's cheap, but they do sell some of the finest and most collectible books in the world.
We try our search for Innocents Abroad, but we don't come up with 572 matches, nor even 186. No, we get two. The "cheap" one is a recent limited edition printing with new drawings and high quality paper and bindings for $1,250. The other is a first edition, first issue for $5,000. This site isn't for everyone, but if you want the best and can afford it, it is for you.
Bibliophile.net Next up is Bibliophile. This is still another listing site, but again, very different from anything we've seen before. It's downright eclectic. This site has the feel of something designed more by techies than typical booksellers. How many book sites start off by telling you that you can adjust the font size displayed by clicking "view" on your browser menu? Not many. Priorities are different here.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
