iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

This little 4 leaf gathering seems to contain quite a bit of text from a Roman Missal, but this script is really something tough to place. Is it 12th, 13th, or even 15th century?? Already wrote my theories and spoken to folks, but feel free to chime in if you wanna take a jab

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

As I slowly work on the major catalog, one handful of material particularly catches my eye, being a selection of predominantly 14th century Medieval manuscript letters... on laid paper!!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Been a while since ive had one of the early copies of Dante in the shop, here's a nice 1564 copy with nearly 100 woodcuts, newly arrived!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

If i had a nickel for every velvet bound missal i saved for my next catalog, id have two. Which isn't a lot, but a weird coincidence all the same!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Massive catalogs are one thing, but trying to buy a house has given me one whopper of a headache! Anyways, to remind me of the passage of time fittingly is this first edition English Ambroise Pare that just arrived.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

For reasons of "buying a house is an expensive and stressful proces", yours truly will not be exhibiting at the Montreal Antiquarian Book Fair anymore.... But hey, i got these 19th century silver coins from India to cheer me up for now.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Quite a few folks have been wondering, what does the next major catalog look like? Well, here's a peek at all the variety I've got in store. Barring a sudden house purchase, expect a late Fall or Early winter release.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Alrighty, here we are today at the Royal Medieval Fair , all set up and ready to go until 6PM EST! Come on by, browse through some books and manuscripts, maybe buy one too!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Brain, what kind of books should I buy today? Brain: ANCIENT ROMAN COINS AND A HOARD OF MEDIEVAL ENGLISH SILVER Hrmmmm.....you're the boss!!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Quick deal of the day. 1514 edition of Pope Gregory IX’s Decretals, Two full-page woodcuts which display the Arbor Consanguinitatis, the Arbor Affinitatis, and roughly 179 in-text woodcuts. Lacking title and three prelims. 1800 USD and its yours. Message or email for more!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I like Bibles! I like incunables! Therefore, liking this 1498 incunable Bible with woodcuts and rubrication is a given. Side note, a client was inquiring about this one. Can't remember who though, so feel free to reach out if interested!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

An early 16th century Missal in contemporary tooled leather is already impressive enough. But sporting zodiac woodcuts AND coming off the Zaragoza press of Jorge Coci? A post incunable Missal from one of Spain's most pre-eminent printers of the period...now that's something!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

An early 16th century Iliad of Homer is impressive, yes, but what about one that's also bound in 15th century manuscript waste and sporting incunabular pastedowns? Coming soon to the next major catalog...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

You know, its been a hot minute (more like a couple years) since I've had a modern illuminated manuscript like this! Back in 19th century France these were all the rage, and this one is a pretty exceptional production on fine paper, bound by the Lesort workshop to boot!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Average bookseller weekend, cataloging mounds of early printed books while trying to furiously dig up provenance details. Who knew the historical significance of books from the Clementine Library? I didn't til today!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

In my dreams, I saw a great, towering pillar of books. In my dreams, I saw double stacked bookcases too full to accept more. Now I wake, and the dream is made manifest, for I am very much out of space, and that is a lot of 16th century material to shelve....

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

This 12th Century Glossed Bible found a new home waaaaaay faster than expected, so here's some photos I wanted to share since it's gone now 🥺 Now to find another manuscript to fill that void in my heart....

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Once again, mail day for new book acquisitions looks like a bust photo op. I wonder which of these my illuminated manuscript is in?

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Annoyingly, for no reason, my Facebook account has been suspended WHILE I was actively using it. Gonna wait and see how long it takes this time...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

There's finely bound sets, and then there's Finely Bound Sets. If you've ever wanted your own set of 17th to early 18th century, beautiful morroco bindings, you really dont want to miss tomorrow's deal...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

If i had a nickel for every time I had to go to the fucking ER this month, id have two. Thankfully getting discharged now.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

In conjunction with my colleague Joe at Antique Bible, here's our oldest Biblical manuscript, a 12th century Glossed Bible containing the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, Circa 1150-1175. Feel free to reach out for additional questions or inquiries. Still studying away here.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Well, I dont often get nearly 200 pounds of early Italian printing from the 16th to 18th century, but when I do, it comes on a wooden skid. Might need.... more shelf space...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I Rarely, Rarely ever buy non book antiques for the shop, but getting a gift for my spouse also means ending up with a small collection of Victoria and Edwardian chatelaines, and this one has a book form pincushion to boot! Expect some postings this week.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

On with the deals, 1541 edition of Estienne’s folio Bible published by Nicolas Petit and Jean Mareschal. Profusely illustrated, with full- page woodcuts and numerous in-text woodcuts, and woodcut initials throughout. 1800 USD and postage! Message me to claim or for more info.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Bargain of the day, 1511 illuminated Hardouyn Book of Hours printed on vellum. 9 of 18 metalcuts (4 half page), with illuminated frames, and metalcut frames to every other page. 88 of 120 leaves. 5500 USD and postage is all it takes. Message or comment to inquire or claim!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

After a recent ER trip, it seems my health isn't bouncing back Quite as much as I'd hope, so this next while, expect some flash deals, and possibly even a store wide sale, including this nifty illuminated Hardouyn Book of Hours on vellum.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

1701 copy of The Office of Holy Week, fanfare binding for Mary of Modena, Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, second wife of James II/VII. After the failure of the Glorious Revolution, she went into exile in France. First such binding of hers I've ever seen. Exciting find!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Alright, well, my book acquisition Milestone for the Decade has been achieved. More on that later....

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A manuscript register with nearly 200 years of records going back to the 1500s is already interesting enough, but when there's beautifully historiated initials in the mix, that's when you know its just perfect.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Deal of the day, a rather well loved 1685 New Testament, containing everything from Matthew to Revelation, and a nice Hill-Newcomb imprint at that. 275 USD + Postage and its all yours. Message me directly or comment below to make a claim!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I constantly get asked what the oldest printed book in my shop is, here it is again. A Hyakumanto Darani, or the One Million Pagodas and Dharani Prayers), Printed Circa 764-770. A rare, surviving example of the oldest tracable publication in the world.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

As booksellers and collectors, sometimes we make impulse and unusual purchases for the store. Do I NEED almost 30 Welsh Bibles? No. But its hard to turn down the opportunity when it randomly presents itself.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Folks have been asking me questions about new material lately, so ill answer a few here. 1. Will there be a new catalog soon? Yes, probably in fall. 2. How many items? More than 250, less than 400. Probably 3. Incunables? Yes. Annotated. Rubricated. Contemporary bindings. Etc.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I've been buying so many books lately ive literally lost track of What ive bought, though this 1584 first edition on the History of Wales stands out in my memory... considering I bought three copies.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

After a rather troublesome lil bout of food poisoning, yours truly is back to posting, and to start things off, here's a newly arrived French manuscript book of prayers with Dutch brocade endpapers!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Me: Gosh, I really shouldn't buy toooo many rare books during my honeymoon! Brain: Consider, Illuminated Hardouyn Book of Hours. You win this time, brain...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Today has been absolutely draining in this weather, but getting to see the 800 year old stave church was absolutely worth it all.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

This year, quite a few folks have been asking if there'll be new incunables in my next major catalog. The answer is a resounding yes!! And to kick teasers off, here's a first Italian edition of Saint Augustine's City of God, printed Circa 1476-78

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

You might be curious about what im cooking up for the next major catalog. For one, beautiful bindings are definitely on that list. Enjoy this 18th century Missal Romanum in a velvet and silver adorned binding.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

It may be missing a decent amount of leaves, but holding a first German edition of Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle is something ive waited on for almost half my life. And it still has the world map!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Awesome day at auction today. Bought not one, but three unique, illuminated Italian Books of Hours!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Woke exhausted and mildly sick, but this teeny lil French illuminated prayer manuscript showed up too, so I guess it all balances out...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

New E-List for the day! 30 new items, covering surgery, alchemy, pathology, and more. cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/02...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Hehe, monke. Putting the anatomy list together now, expect a June 9th launch!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Well, it looks like my Facebook and Instagram have been hacked, so for the next while this is gonna be one of the only accounts im actually posting from!

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Ever wanted a near complete Tale of Genji with commentaries and contemporary bindings from the 1600s? For under 1100 USD it can be yours! thatguywiththebooks.com/products/gen...

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Me: Gosh, i havent been buying all that much lately, I hope the next catalog isn't too small 🥲 Mailman: Here's your collection of 12th to 15th century manuscripts and charters Me: ....gosh, I sure could go for more acquisitions... FYI, oldest piece dates to about 1142.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I have bought and sold quite a few rare occult text over the years. Iamblichus, De Porta, Agrippa, and more. However, a manuscript edition of The Prophecies of Nostradamus, produced in 1684 and copied from a 1568 edition? Well now..... that's a first.

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That Guy With The Books @guywiththebooks.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Me: I should stop buying East Asian Manuscripts. Internet: Not even a Botanical Album with 72 Silk Paintings? Me: Alright internet, you win for now....

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