Less than a 15-minute drive from the bustling city centre of Sydney is the oasis of serenity and calm that is The Antique Bookshop and Curios, located on Pacific Highway in Crows Nest, from where long time proprietor Peter has been selling antique and collectible books to libraries, dealers and interested individuals for nearly half a decade.

As a bone fide dealer in antiquarian books, Peter is a member of both the Australia and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), the latter being made up of 22 national booksellers associations that was founded in 1947. Consequently, you can be assured of the provenance and integrity of any vintage books that you may peruse amongst Peter’s significant curation. Members of these organisations are committed to the highest of standards and as well as guaranteeing the authenticity of all items, will provide accurate and honest descriptions, highlighting any defects or repairs, operate a transparent pricing policy and above all, always operate in a fair and honest manner.

Antiquarian books are usually valued more as physical objects, rather than for the content; consideration will be made to which edition the book may be, the quality of printing and illustrations - or perhaps the extravagance and care taken in the binding, but nonetheless amongst the impressive itinerary of books at this antique bookstore you will not only find volumes of rarity and thus highly collectable, but also books of great interest to the general reader.

Currently with approximately 20,000 books available, covering a broad range of subjects and time periods, you will find real antiquities such as the highly desirable Carey’s New and Correct English Atlas, a first edition dating back to 1787, a folio rebacked in buckram with marbled paper sides, brass clasps and featuring engraved title and dedication as well as 46 engraved maps. Cary was considered one of the foremost cartographers of the time, and this volume is a historic relic from those days.

Peter also produces regular updated catalogues, featuring special deals, new arrivals and recommendations for books of the month, which are made available online, but of course you are more than welcome to visit the bookshop in Sydney, where, at your leisure you can browse through the fabulous collection of old books – alongside some not so old, but still of great interest or rarity.

If you are a collector of art books in Australia, and whether you are interested in Aboriginal art, aviation, the history of the Pacific, travel, classic literature, or countless other genres, The Antique Bookshop and Curios, the outstanding rare book dealers in Sydney, will be sure to have something of interest to you. 

However, you don’t have to be an aficionado of rare books in Sydney to take pleasure in a visit to this wonderful bookstore; all lovers of literature will be enchanted by the selection of titles on display, many of which are available at prices little more than a couple of cups of coffee.

Why not pop in today?

For as long as man has been able to communicate through the written word, books have afforded a glimpse into different worlds for the readers, whether as a captivating work of fiction or via an accurate record reflecting society and its values at the time of writing. Books therefore are highly collectable and old and vintage books should always be treated with the utmost care, to preserve them in good condition for future generations.

At the Antique Bookshop and Curios, an antique bookstore around ten minutes from Sydney CBD via the new Metro line, bibliophiles and bookworms will discover a treasure trove of antiquarian and collectable books, lovingly looked after by Peter, the proprietor of the store. The diversity and range of books on offer is demonstrated perfectly by the juxtaposition of two highlighted books; the first, an extremely rare 1782 copy of The Complete Angler written by the famous Isaac Walton, beautifully bound and decorated commensurate with the time period, the second a pristine 2014 signed copy of the Booker prize winning The Narrow Road to the Far North written by Richard Flanagan.

Rare book dealers of repute, such as Peter always offer accurate descriptions of their wares so that customers can buy with certainty as to the provenance and authenticity of all books. With such a collection of rare and antique books as can be found anywhere in Sydney or Australia, you are welcome to visit the bookshop in Sydney and browse the plethora of books at your leisure or take your time viewing the collection online.