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
SOME HINTS ON PATTERN-DESIGNING
by MORRIS, WILLIAM
London : Printed at the Chiswick Press for Longmans & Co , 1899 (click for more details)THE AMUSING INSTRUCTOR; OR, A KEY TO THE ITALIAN CLASSICS
by (ITALIAN-ENGLISH INSTRUCTION BOOKS, 18TH CENTURY). MONTUCCI, ANTONIO
London : Printed for the Editor , 1793 (click for more details)THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
by (BINDINGS - SETS). GIBBON, EDWARD
Philadelphia : Printed by Robert Carr for William Y. Birch & Abraham Small , 1804-05 (click for more details)THE TRAGEDIE OF SOLIMON AND PERSEDA
by (BINDINGS - DOUGLAS COCKERELL). (FACSIMILE). [KYD, THOMAS]
[London : J, Smeeton , 1815] (click for more details)LE TABLEAU DE LA CROIX
by (ENGRAVED BOOKS - 17TH CENTURY). (BINDINGS - CAPÉ). (PRAYER BOOK)
Paris : Chez F. Mazot , 1651 (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.