Bookshop Blog

Why Evolution Doesn't Appear in the First Edition of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species

Why Evolution Doesn't Appear in the First Editi...

You might be surprised to learn that the word evolution doesn't appear in any of the first five editions of Darwin's On the Origin of Species. We'll take a look...

Science & Nature

Why Evolution Doesn't Appear in the First Editi...

By Laura Massey

You might be surprised to learn that the word evolution doesn't appear in any of the first five editions of Darwin's On the Origin of Species. We'll take a look...

The Big World of Tiny Books : Miniature Books from the Islamic Department

The Big World of Tiny Books : Miniature Books f...

Exploring the miniature Qur'ans of David Bryce and Hans Steinbrener, published from the 1890s through the 1960s, including their remarkable use as talismanic pendants by British-Muslim troops during the First...

Near East & Islamic

The Big World of Tiny Books : Miniature Books f...

By Roxana Kashani

Exploring the miniature Qur'ans of David Bryce and Hans Steinbrener, published from the 1890s through the 1960s, including their remarkable use as talismanic pendants by British-Muslim troops during the First...

The Decline and Fall of Empires

The Decline and Fall of Empires

This week marks 250 years since the first publication of Edward Gibbon’s (1737-1794) era-defining History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Philosophy History & Economics

The Decline and Fall of Empires

By Oliver Yarwood

This week marks 250 years since the first publication of Edward Gibbon’s (1737-1794) era-defining History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

A Giant Book of Tiny Birds: The First Edition of John Gould’s Hummingbirds

A Giant Book of Tiny Birds: The First Edition o...

A close look at ornithologist John Gould's magnificent six-volume book on hummingbirds, Monograph of the Trochilidae, and the remarkable process he used to mimic iridescent bird feathers.

Science & Nature

A Giant Book of Tiny Birds: The First Edition o...

by Laura Massey

A close look at ornithologist John Gould's magnificent six-volume book on hummingbirds, Monograph of the Trochilidae, and the remarkable process he used to mimic iridescent bird feathers.

John Gould’s First Bird Book: A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains

John Gould’s First Bird Book: A Century of Bird...

Introducing John Gould, the Victorian ornithologist responsible for some of the most beautiful bird books ever published, and his first work, A century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains.

Science & Nature

John Gould’s First Bird Book: A Century of Bird...

By Laura Massey

Introducing John Gould, the Victorian ornithologist responsible for some of the most beautiful bird books ever published, and his first work, A century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains.

Captain Cook's Voyages | The publishing phenomenon

Captain Cook's Voyages | The publishing phenomenon

 The publishing phenomenon around Captain Cook's Voyages

Travel

Captain Cook's Voyages | The publishing phenomenon

by Tomos Nutt

 The publishing phenomenon around Captain Cook's Voyages

Behind the Door to Room 101

Behind the Door to Room 101

Orwell’s famous adage in joining the working-class cause ‘you’ve nothing to lose but your aitches’ was gloriously ironic for a man with one of the plumiest accents of his age....

Literature

Behind the Door to Room 101

by Adam Blakeney

Orwell’s famous adage in joining the working-class cause ‘you’ve nothing to lose but your aitches’ was gloriously ironic for a man with one of the plumiest accents of his age....

Floral at Firsts | Join us at STAND C18

Floral at Firsts | Join us at STAND C18

It’s all go here at Shapero as Firsts, the London rare book fair, fast approaches. Yet, amidst the storm of clattering trunks the fair’s theme of Books in Bloom (how...

Updates

Floral at Firsts | Join us at STAND C18

curated by Oliver Yarwood

It’s all go here at Shapero as Firsts, the London rare book fair, fast approaches. Yet, amidst the storm of clattering trunks the fair’s theme of Books in Bloom (how...

Scott's 'Discovery' Expedition to the Antarctic

Scott's 'Discovery' Expedition to the Antarctic

The Discovery Expedition (1901–1904), Britain’s first major Antarctic venture, achieved remarkable scientific and geographic milestones despite limited funding and inexperience. Led by Robert Falcon Scott, it reached a new furthest...

Travel

Scott's 'Discovery' Expedition to the Antarctic

The Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration

The Discovery Expedition (1901–1904), Britain’s first major Antarctic venture, achieved remarkable scientific and geographic milestones despite limited funding and inexperience. Led by Robert Falcon Scott, it reached a new furthest...

Introducing our New Department: Rare Science Books

Introducing our New Department: Rare Science Books

Science Specialist Laura Massey introduces and gives an overview of eight new Science Categories Available to browse on our website.

Updates

Introducing our New Department: Rare Science Books

by Laura Massey

Science Specialist Laura Massey introduces and gives an overview of eight new Science Categories Available to browse on our website.

A Guide to Guidebooks

A Guide to Guidebooks

Karl Baedeker was head of a successful publishing business, when in 1832 he acquired the publishing house of Franz Röhling which four years earlier had published a travel guide Rheinreise...

Guides

A Guide to Guidebooks

by Lucinda Boyle

Karl Baedeker was head of a successful publishing business, when in 1832 he acquired the publishing house of Franz Röhling which four years earlier had published a travel guide Rheinreise...

Ukrainian Modernism

Ukrainian Modernism

The Royal Academy's new exhibition, In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine 1900-1930s, is the most comprehensive exhibition to date in the UK, celebrating a period of bold...

Literature

Ukrainian Modernism

A visit to the Royal Academy in London by Eleanor Moore

The Royal Academy's new exhibition, In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine 1900-1930s, is the most comprehensive exhibition to date in the UK, celebrating a period of bold...

Provenance

Provenance

The great thing about collecting books is that they were produced as multiples giving lots of collectors a chance to own a copy. To distinguish between copies the most desirable...

Travel

Provenance

Julian MacKenzie chooses books from the collections of 3 great bibliophiles, currently on our shelves.

The great thing about collecting books is that they were produced as multiples giving lots of collectors a chance to own a copy. To distinguish between copies the most desirable...

Africa Inscribed

Africa Inscribed

In anticipation of the approaching London Antiquarian book fairs, this May, we are spotlighting rare African exploration works. Featured, are four first editions, with inscriptions linking them to historical figures, enhancing their...

Travel

Africa Inscribed

Four essential works of African exploration.

In anticipation of the approaching London Antiquarian book fairs, this May, we are spotlighting rare African exploration works. Featured, are four first editions, with inscriptions linking them to historical figures, enhancing their...

Art and the East India Company

Art and the East India Company

The public perception of the East India Company, an organisation which was to become one of Britain's most notorious colonial ventures, was mediated by a collective of artists. Diplomatic wrangling,...

Travel

Art and the East India Company

The public perception of the East India Company, an organisation which was to become one of Britain's most notorious colonial ventures, was mediated by a collective of artists. Diplomatic wrangling,...