Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts was established in 1978 on a ping pong table in a basement in Kalamazoo, Michigan. From the beginning, its founder was willing to sell a range of material (both because this approach made the work more educational than otherwise and because it gave him a good excuse for not being an expert in any particular specialty). Over the years, the business has gravitated toward historical artifacts that are physically attractive in some way-illuminated material, fine bindings, books printed on vellum, fore-edge paintings, beautiful typography and paper, impressive illustration. But the company nevertheless sells a wide range of things, from (scruffy) ninth century leaves to biblical material from all periods to Wing and STC imprints to modern privately printed books. While we are forgiving about condition when something is of considerable rarity, we always try to obtain the most attractive copies possible of whatever works we offer for sale. For the past 22 years, we have been fortunate to represent one of the country's most important collectors. This collaboration means that, apart from our own inventory, we have a continuing interest in building his collection of visually arresting books (items of unusual size, with beautiful bindings, and/or containing striking illustrations) and of other material that is extraordinarily odd or interesting, especially if (but not exclusively) relating to the history of medicine.
Browse this Seller’s Inventory
Recently Listed Items
HISTORIAE FRANCORUM LIBRI V.
by AIMOINUS FLORIACENSIS
Paris : apud Andreas Wechel , 1567 (click for more details)PARADISE LOST; A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS; PARADISE REGAINED, A POEM IN FOUR BOOKS. TO WHICH IS ADDED SAMSON AGONISTES AND POEMS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
by (BASKERVILLE IMPRINT). MILTON, JOHN
Birmingham : Printed by John Baskerville for J. and R. Tonson in London , 1759 (click for more details)TEXT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PSALMS
by AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH AN HISTORIATED INITIAL OF A PROPHET, FROM A LAVISH PSALTER-HOURS MADE FOR A NUN
Flanders, Southern Netherlands, or Rhineland(?) ca. 1250-75 (click for more details)XII CAESARES ET IN EOS LAEVINI TORRENTII COMMENTARIUS AUCTIOR ET EMENDATIOR
by (BINDINGS - 16TH CENTURY BOHEMIAN). (PLANTIN IMPRINT). SUETONIUS TRANQUILLUS
Antwerp : ex Officina Plantiniana, apud viduam & Ioannem Moretum , [1592] (click for more details)
Signed
AESOP'S FABLES
by RACKHAM, ARTHUR, Illustrator
London : William Heinemann , 1912 (click for more details)Recent Catalogs
Catalogue 81: Early Books and Manuscripts
Early Books and Manuscripts
Recent Catalogs
Catalogue 80: Women Binders
Catalogue 80 featuring work by women binders from the Arts & Crafts movement of the late 19th century to the present.