Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books & Medieval Manuscripts

Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books & Medieval Manuscripts We sell illuminated medieval manuscripts and rare books including incunabula, fine bindings, private Phillip J.

Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts was established in 1978 on a ping pong table in a basement in Kalamazoo, Michigan. From the beginning, its founder was willing to sell a range of material (both because this approach made the work more educational than otherwise and because it gave him a good excuse for not being an expert in any particular specialty). Over the years, the business has gr

avitated toward historical artifacts that are physically attractive in some way—illuminated material, fine bindings, books printed on vellum, fore-edge paintings, beautiful typography and paper, impressive illustration. But the company still sells a wide range of things, from (scruffy) ninth century leaves to biblical material from all periods to Wing and STC imprints to modern privately printed books. While we are forgiving about condition when something is of considerable rarity, we always try to obtain the most attractive copies possible of whatever works we offer for sale. For the past 13 years, we have been fortunate to represent one of the country's most important collectors. This collaboration means that, apart from our own inventory, we have a continuing interest in building his collection of visually arresting books (items of unusual size, with beautiful bindings, and/or containing striking illustrations) and of other material that is extraordinarily odd or interesting, especially if (but not exclusively) relating to the history of medicine.

05/02/2026
Featured in this week’s shortlist: Cuneo binding on “A Picturesque Tour in the Mountains of the High Pyrenees” by Joseph...
07/22/2025

Featured in this week’s shortlist: Cuneo binding on “A Picturesque Tour in the Mountains of the High Pyrenees” by Joseph Hardy (1825).

Velvet and embossed paper binding on a German Hymnal (1846).
07/15/2025

Velvet and embossed paper binding on a German Hymnal (1846).

02/29/2024

The NY Times says a Medieval Book of Hours is the "Collectors' New Must-Have." (gift article). If you must have one of these, we can help!

New Catalogue - Omar Khayyam -
11/07/2023

New Catalogue - Omar Khayyam -

Today we share a new catalogue of some 300 editions of one of the world’s most enduring works, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

Weekly Short List -
06/06/2023

Weekly Short List -

This week’s New Arrivals List features items from five centuries, beginning with a ca. 1487 imprint and including rare books and finely-bound extra-illustrated sets (one with presidential documents).

Weekly Short List -
05/16/2023

Weekly Short List -

Our latest new Weekly Short List features a wide range of material, including an intricately sculpted silver binding, gorgeous Cosway-style bindings, and a unique copy of a vellum printed work in a Lortic binding.

Weekly Short List -
05/09/2023

Weekly Short List -

Our latest new Weekly Short List features items from the 16th, 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries, with beautiful bindings, a group of one hundred woodcuts, and a Papal Bull.

Additional Items for the New York Book Fair -
04/25/2023

Additional Items for the New York Book Fair -

The fair is this weekend and we had extra room in our trunks. Click the button below to see the list of additional items we will have on display.

Weekly Short List - Birthday Picks -
04/18/2023

Weekly Short List - Birthday Picks -

Our latest new Weekly Short List features a wide range of selections starting at $250 by our extraordinary office manager, Tammy Opheim.

Address

McMinnville, OR

Telephone

+15034720476

Website

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