Biblio member since 2019
Welcome to Black's Fine Books and Manuscripts: Specialists in Rare and Out-of-Print Books, Manuscripts, and Archival Collections.
We are a rare book firm specializing in retrospective publications with notable strengths in Antiquarian Books, Archives, Canadiana, Culinary History, Fine Bindings, Indigenous Studies, Modern Literature, Socialism, Slavic Studies, and much more. With over a decade-and-a-half of experience serving institutional and private clients alike, we are pleased to offer an eclectic, ever-changing, selection of over 25,000 scarce and unique titles ranging from antiquity to the present day, of which only a small selection has been made available. We actively buy-and-sell rare and out-of-print books, manuscripts, printed ephemera, personal and institutional archival collections, and other rare and unusual materials – in Canada, the United States, and Europe. When feasible, we will travel to examine collections of interest, particularly in areas of our specialization.
Our practise is actively engaged in the positive disposition of literary and institutional archives, and we conduct monetary evaluations of select individual items, and collections for universities, museums, and private clients.
Curated lists periodically issued. To keep abreast of our latest acquisitions, please consider joining our mailing list by e-mailing us at mail@blacksbooks.ca.
Terms of Sale:
In respect to items purchased from us over the internet, our Terms of Sale are as follows:
1) The content of our website is for your general information and is subject to change without notice, including item availability and prices.
2) We are professional booksellers and adhere to the standards of our professional associations, both in terms of describing books and offering redress in case of a discrepancy.
3) The prices of all material offered for sale on our web site, or on the databases to which we subscribe, are net in US dollars, and each item is subject to prior sale. Normally payment in full must be received before an item will be shipped. If sending a cheque, money order, or purchase order, it is advisable to contact us first to request that the book be reserved for you pending receipt of payment.
4) Payment may be made by cheque drawn on a US or Canadian bank; wire transfer (please contact us directly for our BIC/IBAN/SWIFT particulars); or, credit card (MasterCard, VISA).
Please note that we reserve the right to delay shipment of any book paid for by cheque, until the cheque has cleared the payer's bank account. If paying by money order, please make sure that you purchase a form of money order which may be cashed in Canada (i.e., an international money order).
5) Payment with order, please. We do not send any item out on approval unless prior arrangements have been made. Legitimate book dealers, with whom we have established a reciprocal arrangement, and any member of the ABAC, ABAA, ABA, PBFA, or an ILAB-affiliated national organization, may apply for a trade discount on any proposed purchase. Canadian purchasers will be charged GST. Known academic institutions, or libraries, may be billed upon receipt of a purchase order.
6) We guarantee the authenticity and completeness of every item and will clearly note any defect in our descriptions. We will describe the condition of the goods at the time of the sale and provide any information in our possession about condition for which you may reasonably ask.
7) Any item purchased from Black's Fine Books and Manuscripts is returnable (postpaid) to us within ten days of receipt, if it is found to be substantially different than as described. Returns extend only to the original purchaser of an item, and must be returned in the same condition in which it was received. Please contact us directly prior to shipping any items for return.
Layaway: We do offer a layaway arrangement on more expensive items: generally where the purchase price exceeds $1,000. Typically, the purchaser should offer to us a down payment and propose acceptable terms of payment. We do not charge interest on payments made according to such an agreement. The item being purchased will be shipped upon receipt of payment in full. If payment is not made in accordance with the terms of the layaway arrangement, then the deposit and any payments will only be refunded after we have re-sold the item in question, and deducted our re-selling costs (if any).
Digital Images: We can provide digital photographs or scans, sent as .jpeg attachments, of any item in stock. In making such a request, please be as specific as possible as to the views you would like to receive. Please bear in mind that it is not practical for us to provide photos to people doing research, or seeking to compile a library of digital images, and that we are less inclined to send photos of an inexpensive book (due to the time and effort it requires), in the absence of a demonstrable need or reason on the part of the would-be purchaser.
Copyright: The copyright subsisting in all images and other materials, including this website, produced for the sale of goods is owned by us, and such images and materials may only be used with our permission. During the period in which goods sold by us are protected by copyright, the copyright remains with its author (or any person to whom that right has been assigned).
Shipping Terms
Orders are retrieved, and shipped within 3-5 business days. A confirmation e-mail with tracking information, should one be issued, will follow shortly thereafter. You may check the status of your order at any time by logging into your account.
All books are packed carefully, usually swathed in bubble-wrap, which is then set into a custom cardboard container.
Our postage and packing charges depend upon three factors:
(1) the destination of the shipment;
(2) the size, weight and fragility of the item to be shipped;
(3) the speed of delivery (i.e. parcel post, air mail, expedited service, courier etc.).
Generally, the postage and packing charge for a standard sized (octavo) book sent to a major Canadian city will be about $19.00 in Canadian funds (plus GST). Shipping to a smaller centre, or remote area, will cost more. These rates are set by Canada Post. Sending a standard-sized (octavo) book to an American destination presently costs $15.99 in US funds. Generally, overseas shipments will cost $25.00 US for the first, standard sized, book. We will quote shipping charges in advance if you forward us your mailing address and indicate how the item is to be shipped (i.e. Surface Mail, Air Mail, etc.).
We are also pleased to offer shipment by Priority Mail, or Global Priority, for a modest additional charge.
For items that are oversized or require special treatment, shipping and insurance will be calculated at cost; high-value shipments must be insured or the purchaser assumes all liability for loss or damage.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accommodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally.
Please send any further questions by email to: mail@blacksbooks.ca
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