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 factors are condition and provenance and for me the greatest...

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 collectability.

Join us as we journey through time to discover some of the rarest books in the world. The following texts have shown an extraordinary ability to survive, with some books having survived the ravages of flood and fire, and others counting only a single surviving copy.