Rare books and manuscripts at Osenat, in Paris

The letters and manuscripts of great writers, scientists and statesmen are part of our history. Osenat has made it a speciality to bring them beyond a small circle of specialist collectors and to establish them as true “historical memorabilia”, for private collectors and museums alike.

Our “Livres & Manuscrits” auctions are held at the Galerie de Breteuil in Paris, a city where book collectors from all over the world are used to meeting. They are broadcast live online, so that bidders can take part from anywhere in the world, online or by phone.

The department is overseen by Jean-Christophe Chataignier, partner and managing director of the house, and Raphaël Pitchal, head of department. Books and manuscripts are catalogued by the experts of the Librairie des Neuf Muses, Alain Nicolas and Pierre Gheno, court-appointed experts at the Paris Court of Appeal.

Rare books, first editions and bindings

Our sales cover every period, from incunabula to the 20th century:

• Incunabula and early printed books, such as a poetry collection by Gratien du Pont printed in 1541, sold for €24,192.
• First editions, from Montesquieu’s Lettres persanes to 20th-century poets.
• Illustrated books by artists, such as Georges Hugnet’s Non vouloir, illustrated by Pablo Picasso.
• Armorial and fine bindings, with the landmark sales of the Gérard Souham historical library in 2012.
• Entire libraries: in 2025, our team appraised the thousands of early books of the Max Brun library on site in Lorraine.

Manuscripts, autograph letters and historical documents

The department also offers autographs:

• Literary correspondence: in 2018, the sale of the Baudelaire Collection saw leading collectors compete with cultural institutions, with record bids and several pre-emptions.
• Manuscripts and autographs of scientists and composers: Albert Einstein, Johann Sebastian Bach or the naturalist Bory de Saint-Vincent.
• Historical documents, in connection with our Empire in Fontainebleau department, such as a coded letter in which Napoleon I announced in 1812 that he was blowing up the Kremlin, sold for €150,000.

Osenat was entrusted with the collections of Prince Albert of Monaco and Christopher Forbes, both rich in historical letters and manuscripts. The Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Archives de France, the French National Assembly and many museums and departmental archives enrich their collections at our sales.

Sales followed by collectors

In October 2025, a set of eighteen works by Victor Hugo, bound in nineteen volumes, sold for €182,000.

See our upcoming auctions in Paris, our past auction results and our latest news.

Get a valuation or sell rare books and manuscripts

Have you inherited a library, an antique book, a set of letters or a manuscript? Their value depends on the author, the edition (first edition or not), rarity, condition, binding, any inscription or dedication, and provenance. For a letter, the content matters as much as the signature.

Our valuations are free, confidential and without obligation. Send us a few photographs (title page, binding, signature) through our rare books and manuscripts valuation form (in French). You can also meet us by appointment in Fontainebleau, Versailles, Paris or Chailly-en-Bière, or every Wednesday without an appointment during our valuation days. To find out more, see how to sell with Osenat.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if an old book is valuable?

Age alone is not enough. What matters most is the author and the text, the edition (a first edition is generally far more sought after than a reprint), the condition, the binding and the provenance. A first edition of the Lettres persanes, estimated at €3,000–4,000, sold for €21,060.

Can an autograph letter be worth a lot?

Yes, depending on its author, its recipient and its content. A long letter by the naturalist Bory de Saint-Vincent, estimated at €400–500, sold for €35,000. Send us photographs of every page.

How do I sell an entire library?

Do not sort it before consulting us: a modest-looking book may be valuable. Our experts come on site if needed and present the books in the most suitable themed sales.

Where can I sell rare books at auction in Paris?

At the Galerie de Breteuil, 66 avenue de Breteuil, in the 7th arrondissement. Dates are announced in our Paris auction calendar.