Antique Bookcases
A well-chosen antique bookcase is both a practical storage solution and a statement piece. Our dealers offer open bookcases, glazed library cabinets, revolving bookcases and stacking barrister cases in mahogany, oak, walnut and rosewood.
From grand Georgian breakfront library bookcases to compact Edwardian revolving stands, there is something for every room and every collection. These are pieces built to hold weight and last generations.
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Waring & Gillow Burr Walnut Bookcase
A lovely early 20th century bookcase by Waring & Gillow. In the queen Anne style and very well const...
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Tall Open Bookcase With Adjustable Shelves
This Tall Open Bookcase With Adjustable Shelves offers a large amount of storage for your books or i...
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Marquetry Inlaid Burr Walnut Cabinet on Stand
A charming burr walnut cabinet (or bookcase) on stand in the William and Mary style. Dating to the e...
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Large Sized 3 Tier Oak Revolving Bookcase
A very good Edwardian period 3 tier revolving bookcase of generous proportions. Of good construction...
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Edwardian Mahogany Open Bookcase by Lamb of Manchester
A very good Edwardian period mahogany open bookcase by Goodall, Lamb and Heighway of Manchester. Wit...
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A Fine George III Mahogany Waterfall Bookcase
A Fine George III Mahogany Waterfall Bookcase. Raised on turned legs with original brass castors and...
A George III Mahogany Waterfall Bookcase
Raised on bracket feet above which is a cupboard with panel doors concealing a shelved interior and...
Quality Antique Victorian Oak Revolving Bookcase
Quality antique Victorian oak revolving bookcase having a shaped oak top with moulded edge supported...
Rare Freestanding Mahogany Open Adjustable Bookcase
A rare Victorian mahogany open adjustable library bookcase,double sided, freestanding with bookshelv...
A George III Mahogany Waterfall Bookcase
A George III mahogany waterfall bookcase. Raised on a plinth base with cupboard above, the doors hav...
Large Quality Satinwood Breakfront Bookcase with Original Painted Decoration
Large quality satinwood breakfront bookcase with original painted decoration having a shaped cornice...
18th Century Padouk Wood Chippendale Hanging Shelves
An extremely rare and exceptionally beautiful set of 18th Century Chinese Chippendale Padouk wood Ha...
Top Quality English Walnut Open Library Bookcase
Superb quality English figured walnut concave sided and ormolu mounted open adjustable library bookc...
Large Antique Victorian Superb Quality Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase
Large antique Victorian superb quality mahogany breakfront bookcase having a swan neck moulded pedim...
Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Bookcase
Quality antique Victorian mahogany bookcase having an attractive shaped cornice over a pair of glaze...
Regency Walnut Cabinet
Excellent quality walnut two door cabinet on bracket feet, three fixed shelves, in excellent overall...
Large Antique George III Quality Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase 238 x 286 x 62 cm
Large Antique George III quality mahogany breakfront bookcase having a swan neck pediment above a de...
Outstanding Quality Large Antique Victorian Astral Glazed Carved Mahogany Bookcase
Outstanding quality large antique Victorian astral glazed carved mahogany bookcase having a magnific...
Antique Edwardian Oak Revolving Bookcase
Antique Edwardian Oak revolving bookcase having a quality mahogany serpentine shaped top with a moul...
18th Century Oak Delft Rack
A true 18th Century Oak Delft Rack of superb colour, in original condition and of rare form. It is o...
Antique Victorian Quality Figured Mahogany Glazed Bookcase
Antique Victorian quality figured mahogany glazed bookcase having a quality figured mahogany top abo...
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Inlaid Bookcase
Outstanding quality antique Victorian mahogany inlaid bookcase having a mahogany swan neck pediment,...
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Superb Quality Antique Victorian Figured Mahogany Bookcase
Superb quality antique Victorian figured mahogany bookcase having an outstanding quality figured mah...
Antique Victorian Quality Figured Mahogany Bookcase
Antique Victorian quality figured mahogany bookcase having a shaped cornice above a pair of mahogany...
Antique Edwardian Quality Mahogany Revolving Bookcase
Antique Edwardian quality mahogany revolving bookcase having a quality mahogany square shaped top ab...
19th Century Pine Cupboard
This is a great slim early 19th century glazed mahogany bookcase with unusual ebonised gothic detail...
A Late George III Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase
A late George III breakfront bookcase. In decoratively grained dense quality mahogany, the bookcase...
A Lovely Regency Dwarf Bookcase
A lovely Regency dwarf bookcase. In well figured mahogany, the bookcase stands on "domino' feet and...
Antique Aesthetic Style Large Late Victorian Golden Oak 4 Shelves Open Bookcase
A Large Late Victorian (circa 1890’s) Golden Oak Open Bookcase in the aesthetics style with 4 adjust...
Georgian Inlaid Bureau Bookcase
Super quality Georgian bureau bookcase with outstanding inlaid fallfront, tulipwood banding to sides...
Large Antique William IV Mahogany Breakfront Library Bookcase With Cupboards
A Large William IV Mahogany Breakfront Library Bookcase, with 4 glazed doors above panelled cupboard...
A Very Unusual & Dimunitive Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase
A diminutive Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase. This highly unusual bookcase stands only 1720mm tall, is...
Regency Mahogany Bookcase
A superb Regency mahogany bookcase of imposing scale and refined architectural form, showcasing the...
Victorian Mahogany Open Bookcase
A very good mid Victorian period mahogany open bookcase. Of generous proportions and well constructe...
Outstanding Victorian Adjustable Library Bookcase
A superb Victorian double door with stunning flame mahogany and inlaid panels, Library bookcase, wit...
19TH CENTURY WALNUT AND ORMOLU OPEN BOOKCASE BY JOHNSTONE AND JEANES
An exhibition quality large 19th Century walnut and ormolu open bookcase, having a wonderful figured...
George III Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase
For sale is a good quality George III mahogany breakfront bookcase, having a broken arch pediment wi...
Large Victorian Gothic Revival Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase
A magnificent and architecturally commanding 19th-century Gothic Revival breakfront bookcase, presen...
George IV Period Bookcase Cabinet
Early 19th century mahogany two door cabinet possibly made by Gillows of Lancaster and London.
T...
Victorian Walnut Open Bookcase
A handsome Victorian walnut open bookcase dating to circa 1870, featuring a central open section fla...
An Attractive Pair of Early C20th Oak Globe-Wernicke-Style Bookcases
A pair of antique oak Globe-Wernicke-style barrister bookcases with leaded glass fronts, dating from...
Victorian Mahogany Open Bookcase
A fine quality large Victorian mahogany open bookcase, generously proportioned at over two metres wi...
Antique Victorian Mahogany Bookcase Attributed To Howard & Sons
Fine Quality early Victorian mahogany bookcase retailed by Merryweather Holloway London ,Circa 1850...
19th century Inlaid Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase
A fabulous quality 19th Century inlaid mahogany breakfront bookcase, having a moulded edge cornice w...
Victorian Mahogany Open Bookcase
This Victorian Mahogany Open Bookcase offers a generous amount of book storage space. With two fully...
Victorian Walnut Bookcase Cabinet
A good quality walnut narrow two door bookcase cabinet .
The bookcase has three fixed shelves to...
Small Open Bookcase
Small painted pine bookcase simulating rosewood. With turned columns, and split turnings on the shel...
Georgian style mahogany bookcase
This Georgian style mahogany bookcase was made circa 1920.
It is made with the influence of Chippen...
Edwardian inlaid serpentine bookcase
We are delighted to offer you this fine Edwardian inlaid mahogany display cabinet/ bookcase.
It con...
Edwardian inlaid revolving bookcase
This Edwardian inlaid mahogany revolving bookcase was made circa 1900.
It is of serpentine shape, t...
Edwards and Roberts Inlaid Mahogany Bookcase
A superb quality inlaid mahogany bookcase by Edwards and Roberts of London. Late 19th century and of...
Circular Oak Revolving Bookcase
This Circular Oak Revolving Bookcase can store not only books but also other items in the cupboards....
Victorian Open Bookcase in Walnut
Late Victorian walnut open bookcase, having oversailing figured walnut top above two height adjustab...
Edwards and Roberts Inlaid Mahogany Bookcase
A superb quality inlaid mahogany bookcase by Edwards and Roberts of London. Of fine construction in...
Victorian Mahogany Waterfall Bookcase
A very good Victorian period mahogany waterfall open bookcase. Of very good construction and of gene...
Victorian Rosewood Bookcase Cabinet by James Winter
A superb quality early Victorian period rosewood cabinet by James Winter of Wardour Street, London....
Buying an Antique Bookcase
Bookcases are among the most sought-after categories in antique furniture, and with good reason. A solid mahogany bookcase from the Regency period, with its adjustable shelves and elegant proportions, does exactly the same job it did two hundred years ago, only better than anything you'll find on the high street today.
When assessing a bookcase, check that shelves are present and that shelf supports are intact. Adjustable shelves on brass pegs or wooden runners are a sign of quality. Look at the back panels: original pine or oak backing boards, rather than modern plywood, confirm age and authenticity.
Styles Worth Knowing
Globe Wernicke and other stacking barrister bookcases remain hugely collectible. Their modular design means you can start with two or three sections and add more as your library grows. Georgian breakfront bookcases in mahogany are the gold standard for serious collectors, while Victorian Gothic Revival oak bookcases suit period properties beautifully.
Revolving bookcases, most commonly found in Edwardian examples, are brilliant for smaller rooms. They hold a surprising number of books in a compact footprint and make an attractive side table at the same time.
Caring for Your Antique Bookcase
Avoid overloading shelves, particularly on older pieces where the wood may have become more brittle. Keep bookcases out of direct sunlight to prevent fading, and maintain an even room temperature to reduce the risk of timber movement. Wax polish once or twice a year is all that's needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
A breakfront bookcase has a central section that projects forward from the two side sections, creating a stepped front profile. This design originated in the 18th century and is most commonly found in grand mahogany library bookcases from the Georgian period.
Yes, Globe Wernicke and similar stacking bookcases from the early 20th century appear regularly on the market. They were produced in large numbers and their modular design means individual sections can sometimes be found and matched.
Antique bookcases were built to hold books, which are heavy. A well-made mahogany or oak bookcase with sturdy shelves can comfortably support the same loads as a modern equivalent. Check that shelf supports are sound and that the carcass is not racked or twisted.
This depends on condition. A bookcase with a good original patina is generally worth more and looks better left as it is with just a clean and wax. If the finish is badly damaged, a sympathetic restoration by a professional can bring a piece back to life without destroying its character.