Did you know that you are standing in front of a place claiming to be the oldest antiquarian bookshop in the world? This is Sotheran’s. It is a bookshop with a rich history. Sotheran’s calls London home. It has been here for over 200 years.
Sotheran’s was founded in 1761 in York by Henry Sotheran. It established a presence in London in 1815. The bookshop’s story is intertwined with literary treasures and historical events.
In 1892, Sotheran’s secured Althorp’s complete library. This included a rare collection of Caxtons. Enriqueta Augustina Rylands bought the collection. She erected the John Rylands Library in Manchester as a memorial to her husband.
In 1896, Sotheran’s sold a Gutenberg Bible on vellum to J. P. Morgan. They also sold an expensive collection of Byron manuscripts. The following year, they secured the Warwick Castle Shakespeare Library for Henry Clay Folger.
John Harrison Stonehouse joined Sotheran’s as an apprentice in 1884. He became the managing director. Stonehouse commissioned fine bindings and fore-edge paintings. In 1909, Stonehouse commissioned Sangorski and Sutcliffe to produce a jewelled copy of Edward FitzGerald’s The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Sadly, it was lost with the Titanic in 1912.
From 1936 to 2024, Sotheran’s was located at 2-5 Sackville Street. Sotheran’s is the longest-established rare book dealer in the world. For over 250 years, Sotheran’s has meticulously handled and preserved rare books, ephemera, and manuscripts. They believe that preserving and reading the past brings context and joy to the present.
Sotheran’s departments include Early Books and Manuscripts and Literature and Poetry. Also Sciences and Ideas, People and Places, and Art and Avant-garde. A dedicated team of experienced booksellers guides readers.
In 1901, Sotheran’s received the Royal Warrant of Appointment as booksellers and bookbinders to King Edward VII. It was renewed by George V in 1910.
Sotheran’s managed to survive the Blitz. The bombing of London destroyed their archives, but the shop remained unscathed. The company adapted to survive the Great Depression.
Today, Sotheran’s continues to deal in rare books and prints. They preserve and celebrate printed matter. Sotheran’s shares materials from modernist masterpieces to early manuscripts. They also bring works into the light that have been forgotten. Sotheran’s restores them to their rightful place in the literary world.
Sotheran’s stands as a testament to the enduring power of books. It is a place where history and literature come alive. This remarkable bookshop continues to enchant and inspire book lovers.