“Anyone who collects books collects wishes; and anyone who has many wishes is still very young, even at eighty.” Ugo Ojetti
With the launch of the Books, Manuscripts and Autographs Department, Pandolfini Auction House puts its extensive experience and expertise at the service of a market which needs a prestigious national and international landmark.
The Department evaluates and offers in its catalogues books from the dawn of Western Printing to contemporary publishing, including incunables, illustrated books, limited editions, first editions, fine bindings, as well as literary, scientific and artistic works. Our selection criteria are the rarity and quality of the volumes.
Every book is the object of a careful bibliographic research and every single volume is collated to verify its completeness: our aim is to produce descriptions that satisfy both who consign their goods and those who bid on them. The latter may view the lots in person or are welcome to ask us for detailed condition reports. We always ascertain the provenance of the items.
For centuries, books have been the repositories of human thinking and the key promoters of civilization. If those who argue that the Internet and new reading devices will supersede paper-based publications are right, then books are going to be a good investment. Moreover, fine books have always been a refined and intellectual element of interior design.
Indeed, as Cicero used to say, “a home without books is like a body without a soul”.