Bibliophily

Buying an antiquarian book means establishing an intimate link with the past, and bringing a precious memory to life in the present. 1. A fragment of living heritage Each antique book bears the traces of its era: the style of its typography, the editorial choices, the language, the handwritten annotations

Leafing through an antique book also means exploring a world of images: symbolic engravings, decorative motifs, scenes at the head or end of a chapter. These elements – frontispieces, headbands, vignettes, tail piece – are much more than ornaments. They have a narrative, aesthetic and sometimes even symbolic function. At

First editions hold a special fascination for literature lovers and bibliophiles. But what exactly is meant by this term? Is it always a limited edition? Why are these copies so sought-after? At Librairie Clavreuil, we are committed to promoting the first appearances of a work in the world of books.

Taking part in an international antiquarian book fair is more than just displaying a few works on a table. For us at Librairie Clavreuil, every event is a prestigious stage on which to represent our profession, our passion and our high standards. From Paris to New York, from Maastricht to

The word intrigues, sometimes impresses: incunabula. However, it refers to a very specific type of ancient book, participating in the history of the book in the same way as the medieval manuscript and the modern printed book. In this article, we simply explain what an incunabula is, why it’s rare

It’s sometimes said that an old book can be read “through the paper”: this is literally true when it comes to watermarks. These discreet marks, visible through transparency, are a valuable clue to the origin, date or manufacture of a paper. At Librairie Clavreuil, we pay particular attention to this.