Sotheran's

Sotheran's, trading as Henry Sotheran Limited, is a dealer in rare books and prints with a shop on Cecil Court, alongside its main first-floor premises on Charing Cross Road. It describes itself as the longest established rare book dealer in Europe, founded in York in 1761 and established in London in 1815, which places it among the oldest names in the trade.

Book collections are grouped as Literature and Poetry, Science and Ideas, People and Places, and Art and Avant-garde, taking in modern first editions such as Wells and Joyce as well as earlier material. The print holdings cover botanicals, British scenery, decorative works, Japanese prints, maps, natural history illustrations and vintage posters, making the stock as much about antiquarian prints as about the books themselves.

Antiquarian bookshop in London

As an antiquarian bookshop in London with more than two and a half centuries behind it, the firm is a member of the ABA, ILAB-LILA and PBFA and takes part in the London and New York International Antiquarian Book Fairs. Its blog carries articles on stock, exhibitions and related stories for those who want to read around the collection before or after a visit.

What to expect on a visit

The Cecil Court shop opens Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday from 11am to 5pm, with Sunday closed; the Saturday opening applies to Cecil Court only. Set within the West End's traditional book quarter near Leicester Square, it suits serious collectors of rare books and prints and anyone curious about the history of the trade. Bryars & Bryars nearby covers antique maps, and our full list of bookshops in Covent Garden maps the rest of the lane.