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.
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First Edition
THE LIFE OF THE LATE EARL OF BARRYMORE : INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE WARGRAVE THEATRICALS, AND ORIGINAL ANECDOTES OF EMINENT PERSONS
by (THEATER - 18TH CENTURY ENGLAND). (EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED). (BINDINGS - RIVIERE). PASQUIN, ANTHONY
London : Printed for H. D. Symonds , 1793 (click for more details)MEMORIA TECHNICA; OR, A NEW METHOD OF ARTIFICIAL MEMORY
by (MEMORY). GREY, RICHARD
Exeter : Printed and Sold by B. Thorn [et al.] , 1778 (click for more details)THE LADIES LIBRARY
by [STEELE, RICHARD and GEORGE BERKELEY]
London : Printed for Jacob Tonson , 1714 (click for more details)OF THE FRIENDSHIP OF AMIS AND AMILE
by (KELMSCOTT PRESS). MORRIS, WILLIAM, Translator
Hammersmith : Kelmscott Press , 13 March 1894 (click for more details)THE ANATOMY OF PLANTS
by GREW, NEHEMIAH
[London] : Printed by W. Rawlins, for the Author , 1682 (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.