About

Bayliss Rare Books was founded by Oliver Bayliss with a simple idea: rare books and historical objects should feel exciting.

We deal in the kind of material that stops you in your tracks. First editions, signed and association copies, manuscripts, letters, archives, original artwork, music lyrics, film material and objects from major moments in history. From Tolkien, Orwell, Christie, Stoker, Shelley and Fitzgerald to D-Day archives, handwritten lyrics, photography and cultural artefacts, we look for pieces with rarity, beauty, provenance and a proper story behind them.

This is not about dusty books on a shelf. It is about objects that have survived against the odds. Books that changed culture. Manuscripts that show genius at work. Letters that bring writers and artists back into the room. Pieces that belong in museums, but can still be privately owned.

People buy from Bayliss Rare Books because we know how to find extraordinary material. Much of what we handle comes privately, often before it reaches the open market. We research it properly, present it properly and stand behind it. Whether you are building a serious collection, buying one major piece, or looking for something unforgettable, we make the process clear, personal and enjoyable.

Bayliss Rare Books has placed important works with collectors around the world and has been featured by the Financial Times, BBC, The New York Times, The Times, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, CNN and the Antiques Trade Gazette.

At the heart of it all is the hunt. Finding the things that should not still exist, understanding why they matter, and placing them with people who get it.