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
First Edition
DE PHILOSOPHICO CONSOLATUM SIVE DE CONSOLATIONE PHILOSOPHIE: CUM FIGURIS ORNATISSIMIS NOVITER EXPOLITUS
by BOETHIUS, ANICIUS MANLIUS SEVERINUS
Strassburg : Johann Grüninger , 1501 (click for more details)L'ILLUSION HÉROIQUE DE TITO BASSI
by (ART DECO ILLUSTRATION). REGNIER, HENRI DE. CHARLES MARTIN, Illustrator
Paris : La Roseraie , [1925] (click for more details)TEXT FROM HOMILY XXVI ON JOHN 20:19-31
by FRAGMENT OF A VELLUM MANUSCRIPT BIFOLIUM, FROM GREGORY THE GREAT'S "HOMILIAE IN EVANGELIAE.
Germany ca. 1100 (click for more details)[Title in Greek]: H[E] KAINE DIATHEKE. NOVUM TESTAMENTUM. JUXTA EXEMPLAR MILLIANUM
by BIBLE IN GREEK. JOHN BASKERVILLE, Typographer
Oxonnii [Oxford] : Typis Joannis Baskerville, E Typographeo Clarendoniano, Sumptibus Academiae , 1763 (click for more details)HARANGUES PRONONCÉES AUX ENTRÉES DE PLUSIEURS PRINCES ET SEIGNEURS
by (BINDINGS - LE GASCON). RULMAN, ANNE
Paris : De l'imprimerie Froncois Huby , 1612 (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.