Inside Shapero Rare Books, London
(AD: This is a collaboration with Shapero Rare Books, however, all opinions are my own)
Here’s everything you need to know about Bond Street’s only rare and antiquarian bookshop.
Located just a short walk away from London’s bustling Oxford Street, Shapero Rare Books stocks both fiction and non-fiction titles across a variety of genres.
The company was founded by CEO Bernard Shapero, who is a renowned international dealer in rare books and works on paper. Bernard first started dealing books in 1979 at Gray’s Antiques Market in Mayfair, before moving to Holland Park in 1989 and returning to Mayfair in 1996.
Bernard’s team of specialists now have more than 250 years of experience between them, and while Bernard’s specialist areas lie in natural history and travel & voyages, the shop also stocks modern firsts, rare children’s books, guidebooks, Hebraica & Judaica, Eastern European books, and Islamica.
What I love about this bookshop is the number of interesting rare books that they have in store, and on display for visitors to see.
While I was perusing the shelves I spotted a gorgeous second edition of ‘Sense and Sensibility’ by Jane Austen, which was printed in 1817, making it more than 200 years old. I really appreciate that they had it out on display, when it could just as easily be hidden away in a back room somewhere gathering dust while waiting for a buyer.
Other books that caught my eye included a first edition of ‘Ethel and Ernest’ by Raymond Briggs, as well as a copy of ‘The Little Prince’ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Once I finished browsing the books, I made sure to pop downstairs to their contemporary art gallery on the lower ground floor: Shapero Modern. The exhibition here changes regularly, and when I visited they were showing a collection of work by Claes Oldenburg (and yes, it’s all available to purchase!)
Shapero Rare Books is not only a great place for collectors to add titles to their collection, but it’s also the perfect spot to buy a special gift for someone you love.
A first edition of a beloved book would make an ideal present to mark a special birthday, anniversary or graduation. There’s titles available for all budgets, so don’t be scared off by some of the higher price items!
You can browse their online shop on their website here.
How to Find the Bookshop
Shapero Rare Books is easy to reach from central London, and is just a few minutes’ walk from Bond Street and Oxford Circus underground stations. London bus services also regularly serve the area.
Here is the full address:
Shapero Rare Books, 94 Bond St, London W1S 1SJ
Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 11:30 am - 6pm
I’m so glad that I was finally able to visit Shapero Rare Books, and highly recommend visiting while you’re in London.
Is there a rare or antiquarian book that you’d like to find in the shop? Leave a comment and let me know.