Chris Saunders

Spear’s Review

As the longest-established rare book dealer in Europe (it was founded in York in 1761 and opened in London in 1815), Sotheran’s is no stranger to market fluctuations.

Director of collections Chris Saunders, who has been with the firm for 20 years, emphasises that despite economic and political uncertainty, he has seen an influx of interest from foreign buyers and those looking for a stable, long-term investment. ‘Perhaps, in times of instability, there is something reassuring about holding a beautiful object in your hand,’ he reflects.

The bookseller has certainly had an eventful 250-plus years: Sotheran’s acquired Charles Dickens’ library in the 1870s and commissioned a binding of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam in 1910, which famously sank with the Titanic. Now, the bookseller sells manuscripts, prints and rare editions of books in all genres, from science and philosophy to art, literature and poetry.