Rare Books
AbeBooks offers a huge selection of rare, collectible, and vintage books for sale from booksellers. You will find antiquarian books, out-of-print books, first editions, signed and inscribed copies, incunabula, limited editions, photography books, leather-bound books, and old books from the past. There are also illustrated books, small and fine press books, artist's books, and fine bindings. From books of high value to antique books of interest, we have something for every collection.
Search for rare books
Prolific and imaginative, Isaac Asimov helped to shape the science fiction genre. Discover first editions and limited editions of Asimov’s most famous books, including the Foundation Series and the Robot Series.
Cosway bindings are beautiful rare books with miniature paintings inset into fine leather bindings. They are named after miniaturist portrait painter Richard Cosway. London bookselling firm Sotheran's invented the concept with Miss C.B. Currie providing the art. To learn more, we interviewed antiquarian bookseller David Brass.
Discover our most expensive sales of the year. Our top 10 list of sales includes a book about Italian architecture and a landmark book about the stock market. There is also poetry in French and a famous novel about time travel.
AbeBooks offers an immense selection of first edition books for sale, including some of the most famous books ever published. Find a first edition - from Agatha Christie to Émile Zola - of your favorite book to add to your collection.
Books are great but signed books are better. Find a signed, or inscribed, book from your favorite author and add it to your collection. Our sellers offer signed copies from thousands of authors ranging from Stephen King to Ellery Queen.
Our articles about authors and influential books will inform and inspire you. We also have book lists and collecting guides. We investigate the stories behind famous writers and classic novels to help you find your next read or rare book.
AbeBooks is proud to work closely with a number of antiquarian bookseller associations around the world who are dedicated to upholding high professional standards. Learn more about these organizations and search for rare books from their members.
Rare and collectible books
Books of Hours were medieval bestsellers. These devotional manuscripts, containing a daily routine of prayers for the reader to follow, reached a huge audience.
8 Min Read
Loved by book collectors, Arthur Rackham was a noted illustrator and his work included Aesop's Fables, Peter Pan, and Gulliver's Travels.
1 Min Read
Humble children's books from years past can be immensely valuable. But condition is vital. Browse our list from Oz to a chocolate factory.
There is always demand for these first editions. Ian Fleming's 007 is the spy who became collectible. From Casino Royale to Goldfinger, meet Bond, James Bond.
2 Min Read
Our book collecting guide covers the basic elements of book collecting, from what to collect, to caring for your collection. We explain rare book terminology, and provide a guide to book sizes, formats, and bindings, and also offer useful information relating to old books.
AbeBooks support and promote book fairs and rare book events around the world. This calendar offers dates and details for important antiquarian and rare book fairs, and also events dedicated to paper collectibles and vintage ephemera.