The Camille Sourget bookshop specializes in the purchase and sale of rare and precious books from the 15th to the early 20th century and welcomes you to the 6th arrondissement of Paris.
We ship all our books at our expense worldwide.
Our book of the month
Vari Capricci by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770).
A passion for literature, beautiful books, travel, and human connections.
Camille Sourget founded her bookshop in 2005 in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, rue du Dragon, then moved in 2008 to its current address at 93 rue de Seine.
From father to daughter, she represents the second generation of booksellers, following in the footsteps of her father, Patrick Sourget, who opened his bookshop in 1990 a few steps from the Chartres cathedral.
The Camille Sourget Bookshop specializes in original literary editions, natural sciences, travel books and atlases, and all the beautifully illustrated books that have marked their time. Their expertise spans from the 15th to the early 20th century.
Not all of our books are available on the website, feel free to contact us for any personalized research.
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Do you have many questions about the world of ancient books and don’t know where to start? We try to provide you with some answers here.
What is an ancient book?
By definition, an ancient book is a book that is no longer sold in the regular new book market. It is a work that holds particular interest, whether due to its text, limited print run, binding, or even a dedication or autograph.
Who is a bibliophile?
It is a "person who loves, seeks, and carefully and tastefully preserves rare and precious books." The bibliophile is keen on owning a beautiful collection of books, often following a theme dear to them. This could be a classic like original editions, all publications by an author, or a given period, but also a more original theme unique to the bibliophile. It is a boundless passion, much to our delight!
What are the different types of bindings?
The three main bindings in ancient books are vellum, calf, and morocco.
Vellum is the oldest binding, which at the time was a low-quality binding. It is a skin from stillborn calves, white, soft, and thin. Vellum bindings appeared in the Middle Ages. Today they are much appreciated and sought after. Calf binding is a type of smooth leather of great quality (texture, lifespan, aesthetic). Morocco is the most precious binding because it is very durable and pleasant to the touch. Made from tanned goat skin, it has a visible irregular grain. .There are also other less common bindings, such as basane, shagreen, or Russian leather. Some books aren't bound and are referred to as sewn. The sections that make up the book are sewn and covered with a paper cover.
What are the different formats?
Books are generally rectangular in the height direction; when they are in the width direction, they are called oblong. The format of a book comes from the number of folds of the printing sheet. A sheet folded in two has a folio format; one folded in four has a quarto format, a sheet folded in eight has an octavo format, etc. Other formats include duodecimo, sextodecimo, vigesimquarto, etc. A book composed of whole sheets is called in plano.
How do I know if my book is valuable?
The value of a work is subjective, but in general, original editions, rare and precious bindings, rare texts, signed or autographed books, acquire a certain value. Time also plays in favor of the ancient book, of course. If you have any doubts, feel free to contact us, we will be delighted to appraise your ancient books.
How to preserve my ancient books?
Ancient books should be stored in places that are neither too hot, nor too cold, nor too humid, nor too dry. Direct sunlight or moonlight should be avoided to prevent the color from fading. Regarding their maintenance, some can be regularly waxed (those bound in morocco or calf mainly, but not all types of morocco).
Why collect ancient books?
The love of the ancient book, of course! The desire to leave a quality cultural heritage to one's children can be an additional reason, just like the prospect of making an "investment," even though this reason is never the first for lovers of ancient books. It should also be noted that, from a value perspective, the condition of the works is a crucial criterion, and except under exceptional circumstances, incomplete or damaged works should be avoided.
Where to buy ancient books?
Without speaking for our own, buying ancient books will always be a much more interesting and satisfying experience if you visit a bookseller. As passionate as you are, these exchanges will be much more enriching, personalized, and fruitful than an auction purchase... We invite you to meet just a stone's throw from the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood to advise and discuss our precious books!
