Antique books on Lyon and the Lyonnais: catalogue and valuation

Lyon is not like any other publishing city: in the 16th century, it was one of Europe’s first capitals of printed books. Before Paris monopolised the royal privilege, Lyon’s presses rivalled those of Venice and Basel.

This early prominence explains the richness of Lyon’s book heritage and the enduring appeal of the city, its crafts and its territory for collectors.

Our selection of antiquarian books on Lyon

Lyon Place Carnot and the Statue of the Republic 1901 SOIERIES Maison…

19,00€

Lyon AVION pont du palais de justice

30,00€

Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée: Le Lautaret Alesi❦ Paris-Lyon-Méditérranée le lautaret ALESI

18,00€

Complete Parish Prayer Book for Lyon Diocese❦ Lyon Paroissien complet ou heures…

75,00€

Regional Styles. Lyonnais - Burgundy - Franche-Comté - Alsace - Lorraine❦ Les…

28,00€

Geography of the Rhône Department❦ Rhône 1891 -carte Adolphe Joanne***Géographie du département…

17,00€

Geography of the Rhône Mouths❦ Bouches du rhone hachette 1903 carte Adolphe…

17,00€

The Lyonnais Club❦ Lyon Duhamel Georges “Le club des Lyonnais

30,00€

Dead Cities of the Gulf of Lyon❦ villes LENTHERIC CHARLES LES VILLES…

32,00€

The Lyonnais Club - Original Edition 1929❦ Duhamel Georges Le club des…

34,00€

Archaeological treasures of the Rhône❦ Secrets du Rhône : Les trésors archéologiques…

44,00€

Troubadour Painting: Two Lyonnais Artists❦ peinture troubadour – deux artistes lyonnais :…

116,00€

Voir tous les ouvrages disponibles sur Lyon dans le catalogue

Lyon, Renaissance printing capital

Between 1470 and 1600, Lyon ranked among Europe’s foremost typographic centres. Sébastien Gryphe published the humanists there, Jean de Tournes established himself as one of the era’s finest printers, and Rabelais’s first editions appeared in Lyon. The city’s fairs ensured the distribution of this output across Europe.

For a collector, this means two things. First, a 16th-century Lyon edition always warrants close scrutiny, even when the text seems unremarkable. Second, later works on Lyon’s printing history, bibliographies and exhibition catalogues form a collecting field in their own right.

Other sought-after Lyon subjects

• Silk and the canuts: technical treatises, sample albums, documents on the 1831 and 1834 revolts, works on the Fabrique lyonnaise.
• Local and regional history: monographs on communes, histories of Beaujolais, Forez and Bugey, publications of learned societies.
• Guignol and dialectal literature: plays, collections and almanacs in the Lyonnais patois, often illustrated.
• Gastronomy: Lyon has produced a rich culinary literature, from the mothers of Lyon to Curnonsky’s treatises.

Do you own antiquarian books on Lyon or a library to be appraised?
We provide a free appraisal based on photographs within two working days and purchase libraries anywhere in France. Request a free appraisal

Appraisal and purchase of antiquarian books in Lyon

We regularly work in the Lyon area, especially for estates and house clearances. The process is simple and non-binding.

1. Photographs: an overview of the shelves is enough for an initial opinion, supplemented by title pages of volumes that appear to be antiquarian.
2. Response within two working days, with an estimated valuation range and any follow-up questions.
3. On-site visit for substantial libraries, at our expense and with no obligation to sell.

Special attention if you own books from the 16th century: Lyon imprints from this period are often undervalued in private sales due to lack of identification of the printer. A professional examination of the printer’s mark and colophon can sometimes radically change the valuation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify an early Lyon edition?

The printer’s address usually appears at the bottom of the title-page or in the colophon at the end of the volume, in a Latin phrase such as Lugduni. The engraved printer’s mark, unique to each workshop, then allows precise identification of the printer and date.

Do you travel to Lyon to buy a library?

Yes, for substantial collections we travel at our own expense and without any obligation on your part. For a few volumes, a photographic estimate followed by tracked shipping is quicker.

Do you sell books on the history of the Lyonnais region?

Yes, our catalogue regularly includes local monographs, works on silk-weaving and publications by regional learned societies. The selection above shows the titles currently in stock.

Further reading

• How to value an old book: the 7 factors that set the price
• I’ve inherited an old library: what now?
• Old books by Jules Verne: a valuation guide
• Browse the full catalogue

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