"One of the 10 best rare bookshops in Britain" [The Independent] "One of the best independent retailers in the country" [Royal Society of Literature] Established in York in 1948, with over 60 years of experience and contacts we offer a friendly and knowledgeable service, and are always happy to provide professional and confidential advice - whether you are an experienced collector or a first time buyer or seller. The owner, Tony Fothergill, joined Spelmans in 1979, and was a partner from 1984-2012. "I am a member of the Council of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, and Fair Manager of the York National Book Fair, the largest fair of its kind in the U.K. Peter Miller (Ken Spelman 1968 - 2012) is a consultant to the business, Ken Spelman Books Ltd." ~ books & manuscripts bought & sold: if you are thinking of selling or thinning out your collections - or just have individual books of interest - then contact us - we buy books in all quantities and travel extensively throughout the country. We are also always keen to purchase any manuscripts, diaries, journals, inventories, estate plans &c pre 1850. Also accounts of travels in Europe, especially to Italy. We purchase individual titles or complete libraries. We regularly handle significant items & specialist collections on a private commission basis: contact: tony@kenspelman.com ~ library & collection management. For over 30 years we have worked with major institutions and collectors in developing their libraries. ~ rare book & manuscript catalogues Catalogue 74: Manuscripts [May 2013] - view / download ~ book fairs We exhibit at the following major ABA & PBFA Fairs each year, Bath, Cambridge, Harrogate, London (Olympia & Chelsea), Oxford, & York. complimentary tickets for all fairs - or click on the images below ~ designer printmaker cards & wrapping paper We now stock a superb range of designer cards, and wrapping paper, and we even offer a free wrapping service for purchases. Also books by Mark Hearld, and his wonderful flying bird cut-outs. browse & buy rare books by subject... art, architecture & design view our general stock of quality books: Modern Printmakers & Photographers: We are now selling original prints by a number of leading modern printmakers, including Andrew Waddington, Angela Harding, Graham K. Cook, Tom Frost, & Matte Stephens Join the mailing list for private views of our art exhibitions Coffee and Tea now served in the shop House Concerts York - great live music, highly recommended Thank you for visiting, and please call again, or recommend us to a friend. Don't forget to join our mailing list, as nearly all the recent acquisitions appear in our catalogues, or on the shelves of the bookshop, rather than straight onto the web-site. Tony Fothergill
welcome to
ken spelman books
thank you for visiting us on
.jpg)
gardens and landscape
foreign travel
local topography / york & yorkshire
literature & history
manuscripts & ephemera
.jpg)
