Where should I start in collecting or buying antiquarian volumes?

People buy antiquarian books for a range of reasons. From dedicated collectors to folks that just want one treasured item as an heirloom, showpiece or religious item. Luckily, antiquarian volumes have proven to be solid stores of value. Like any investment, one should start with a sense of budget and then see what speaks to you. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.

How are these books authenticated?

With the exception of very rare texts, antiquarian books are rarely faked. It would take fabricating an entire book using historical methods, which would not be cost-effective as fraud. We collate and catalog all of our volumes checking for completeness, condition, provenance, etc. If you are dissatisfied you may return any volume within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

How should you handle antiquarian books? Should I use white gloves while handling these books?

Antiquarian books should be handled with clean dry hands. Gloves are much more likely to damage a book than protect it. In general, it’s best to go easy on the front hinge, cradle the book in your hands and don’t open much further than the binding allows. In general, antiquarian volumes are quite sturdy. They have survived hundreds of years and, with proper care, will survive all of us.

Where do you obtain these antiquarian books?

We find our volumes in auctions, estate sales, book fairs, and hidden crypts protected with powerful revenants.

Can I return a book if I'm dissatisfied with my purchase?

Absolutely. Please contact us within 30 days of your purchase if you would like to make a return.

How should I store my antiquarian books?

In a cool, dry space away from excessive humidity and extreme temperature variation. It’s also best to store them out of sustained, direct sunlight. If your home has a modern HVAC system, storing them on a shelf is probably just fine.

Why are these books so expensive?

There are numerous factors that determine the price of an antiquarian book. Given the ravages of time, these antiquarian volumes are inherently rare. In the case of books specifically on topics in esotericism, these volumes faced more specific hazards including bans, religious destruction, censorship and smaller print runs than more popular volumes of the day. Further, these volumes can be difficult to find and import.

Have you ever had a paranormal experience dealing in such volumes?

We’ve encountered everything from grimoire manuscripts, volumes of occult philosophy, witch-hunting manuals and guides for torture by the Inquisition but we’ve never experienced anything supernatural or paranormal associated with our books. Your mileage may vary. However, we have encountered clairvoyants that have strong positive and negative experiences with some of the volumes in our collection. Make of that what you will.

How is this connected to Dr. Sledge and his Esoterica channel?

Dr. Sledge is the founder of Esoterica Rare Books. He started into the book trade because of his love of books but also the need to access some of these more obscure volumes in his research and content creation. Along with Dr. Morgan Meis, Dr. Sledge continues to find and curate these rare volumes for new homes on their journey through the centuries.