Maggs Bros Ltd
A long-established British antiquarian bookseller specializing in rare books, manuscripts, historic bindings and other collectible works on paper.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Maggs Bros Ltd is a London-based antiquarian bookseller and specialist dealer in rare books, manuscripts, historic bindings and related cultural material. Established in 1853 by Uriah Maggs, the business developed from a Victorian bookselling concern into an international dealer serving private collectors, libraries, museums, scholars and royalty. Its history is closely associated with the high-end trade in exceptional printed and manuscript items, including incunabula, early English books, literary and historical manuscripts, fine bindings and works connected with notable figures. The firm began in Somerset-born Uriah Maggs's generation and became a family enterprise when his four sons joined the business. Benjamin and Henry were the first sons identified with the firm's name, later joined by Charles and Ernest. The family structure helped the company maintain continuity across the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while its specialist expertise and international contacts allowed it to participate in some of the most important transactions in the rare-book market. In 1908, B. D. Maggs served as president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, reflecting the firm's standing within the British trade. Maggs Bros became particularly prominent through transactions involving historically important books. In 1932, it helped arrange the acquisition from the Soviet government of both a Gutenberg Bible and the Codex Sinaiticus. The Codex transaction was especially notable: the agreed price of £100,000 made it, at the time, the highest price paid for a book. The British government contributed half the purchase price and supported the fund-raising arrangements for the balance. The firm later handled another Gutenberg Bible, acquiring the Dyson Perrins copy in 1947 for Sir Philip Frere and subsequently selling it to Mrs. Edward Laurence Doheny. These dealings established Maggs Bros as a participant in the international movement of major cultural treasures between governments, collectors and institutions. The company has also handled unusual historical objects. In 1916, it acquired an alleged relic identified as Napoleon Bonaparte's penis, a transaction later associated with the object's display and subsequent history. Such episodes illustrate the breadth of the older antiquarian trade, which could encompass curiosities and historical memorabilia alongside conventional books and manuscripts. Maggs Bros has maintained a strong connection with collectors and cultural institutions. Its customers have included John Paul Getty Jr., for whom books and bindings were acquired for the Wormsley Park library, as well as other prominent collectors. A member of the Maggs family later became librarian at Wormsley Park. The firm has also held royal appointments as antiquarian bookseller to several British and European monarchs, including George V, Edward VIII, Alfonso XIII of Spain, Manuel II of Portugal, Elizabeth II and Charles III. The business underwent a reorganization in the early 1990s, when most of its equity was transferred to an employee trust. The Maggs family retained a significant interest. Ed Maggs served as managing director from approximately 1990 until 2024, when he became chairman, while Ben Maggs continued to play an important role in the firm. Fuchsia Voremberg became managing director in 2024; she is also known publicly as a rare-book expert appearing on the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow. Maggs Bros was based for many years at 50 Berkeley Square before moving in 2016 to 46 Curzon Street. It later added a larger premises at 48 Bedford Square. The firm remains an active specialist dealer whose business depends on connoisseurship, provenance research, cataloguing, discreet private sales and relationships with collectors and institutions. Its record includes repeated high-value transactions, including the 1998 purchase of William Caxton's The Canterbury Tales, described as the first book printed in England. That sale, at £4.2 million, was reported as the record price paid for a printed book through at least 2016.
History
Maggs Bros Ltd was founded in 1853 by Uriah Maggs, who was born in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, around 1828. The firm became a family business when all four of Uriah's sons eventually entered the trade. Benjamin and Henry were the first sons associated with the name Maggs Brothers, followed by Charles and Ernest. Their participation established the family continuity that remained a defining feature of the company for generations. By the early twentieth century, Maggs Bros had become a prominent member of the British antiquarian bookselling community. In 1908, B. D. Maggs served a full annual term as president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association. The firm's business extended beyond ordinary retail bookselling into the acquisition, cataloguing and placement of exceptional books, manuscripts, bindings and historical objects. Its clientele included collectors, libraries, museums and members of European royalty. One of the firm's most unusual recorded transactions occurred in 1916, when it purchased an object identified as Napoleon Bonaparte's penis from descendants of Abbé Ange Paul Vignali. The item was later sold to Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach in 1924, placed in a blue Morocco and velvet case, and exhibited at the Museum of French Art in 1927. Although unusual, the episode belongs to the older antiquarian market for relics and historical curiosities. Maggs Bros achieved one of its most important commercial successes in 1932. After Ernest Maggs and the bookseller-scholar Maurice Ettinghausen had encountered the Codex Sinaiticus during a visit to the Soviet Union, the firm was later informed that the Soviet government might sell it. Negotiations resulted in a purchase price of £100,000. The British government agreed to pay half and guaranteed the remainder if public subscription did not raise sufficient funds. The same transaction also involved a Gutenberg Bible, making it one of the most significant bookselling coups of the inter-war period. The firm continued to handle landmark copies of early printed books. In 1947, it bought the Dyson Perrins Gutenberg Bible for Sir Philip Frere and later resold it to Mrs. Edward Laurence Doheny. In 1998, Maggs Bros acquired William Caxton's The Canterbury Tales for £4.2 million. The price was reported as the record paid for a printed book through at least 2016. These transactions helped cement the company's reputation in the international market for rare and historically important books. Maggs Bros also developed long-standing relationships with major collectors. John Paul Getty Jr. was among its notable customers, purchasing books and bindings for his library at Wormsley Park. Bryan Maggs, a great-grandson of Uriah Maggs, worked for the firm in the 1960s and later became librarian at Wormsley Park in 1989. The company received antiquarian bookseller appointments from George V, Edward VIII, Alfonso XIII of Spain, Manuel II of Portugal, Elizabeth II and Charles III. In the early 1990s, the company was reorganized and the majority of its equity was transferred to an employee trust. The Maggs family retained a significant interest. Ed Maggs served as managing director from approximately 1990 until 2024, when he became chairman. Ben Maggs remained an important member of the business, while Fuchsia Voremberg became managing director in 2024. Voremberg is also known as a rare-book specialist who appears on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow. The firm's London premises changed during the twenty-first century. After operating for many years from 50 Berkeley Square, Maggs Bros moved to 46 Curzon Street in 2016 and later opened an additional larger location at 48 Bedford Square. The company remains active as a specialist antiquarian bookseller, with its work centered on expertise, provenance, cataloguing, private transactions and the international circulation of rare books and manuscripts.
- 2024
Fuchsia Voremberg becomes managing director
[1]Fuchsia Voremberg became managing director and Ed Maggs became chairman.
- 2016
Move to Curzon Street
[1]The firm moved from 50 Berkeley Square to 46 Curzon Street and later added premises at 48 Bedford Square.
- 1998
Purchase of Caxton's The Canterbury Tales
[1]Maggs Bros acquired William Caxton's The Canterbury Tales for £4.2 million, then reported as a record price for a printed book.
- 1990
Ed Maggs becomes managing director
[1]Ed Maggs began the approximately three-decade period in which he led the company as managing director.
- 1990
Employee-trust reorganization
[1]A reorganization transferred most of the firm's equity to an employee trust while the Maggs family retained a significant stake.
- 1947
Acquisition of the Dyson Perrins Gutenberg Bible
[1]Maggs Bros bought the Dyson Perrins copy of the Gutenberg Bible for Sir Philip Frere.
- 1932
Codex Sinaiticus and Gutenberg Bible transaction
[1]The firm negotiated the acquisition of the Codex Sinaiticus and a Gutenberg Bible from the Soviet government.
- 1916
Purchase of the alleged Napoleon relic
[1]Maggs Bros acquired an object presented as a relic of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- 1908
B. D. Maggs leads the Antiquarian Booksellers Association
[1]B. D. Maggs served a full annual term as president of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association.
- 1894
The Maggs sons take over the business
[1]All four of Uriah Maggs's sons eventually joined the company, and the family took over when he retired.
Products and positioning
A heritage-led, expertise-driven antiquarian bookseller positioned at the high end of the international rare-book and manuscript market.
Antiquarian books
Rare books and incunabula
The firm's core business is the dealing and placement of rare and early printed books, including incunabula and landmark examples of the history of printing. Its historical transactions include Gutenberg Bibles and William Caxton's The Canterbury Tales. Such material is typically supplied to collectors, libraries, museums and institutional collections through specialist cataloguing and private or negotiated sales.
Manuscripts
Manuscripts and documentary material
Maggs Bros deals in manuscripts and historically significant documents, drawing on specialist knowledge of provenance, authorship, dating, physical condition and cultural context. The firm's international clientele includes private collectors and institutions seeking unique primary sources rather than mass-market publications.
Bookbinding and decorative arts
Fine and historic bindings
Historic and fine bindings form part of the firm's specialist offering. These objects are valued for craftsmanship, provenance, materials and association with particular owners or periods. John Paul Getty Jr. was among the notable customers reported to have bought bindings and books through Maggs Bros for the Wormsley Park library.
Historical collectibles
Historical relics and curiosities
The historical antiquarian trade handled by Maggs Bros has included unusual objects and relics as well as books. The best-known example is the 1916 purchase of an object identified as Napoleon Bonaparte's penis, later sold to Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach and publicly exhibited in 1927.
Brand decisions
2016
Relocate London premisesStrategyBackground
After operating from 50 Berkeley Square for many years, the firm changed its principal London location.
Action taken
Maggs Bros moved to 46 Curzon Street and later added a larger premises at 48 Bedford Square.
Aftermath
The firm continued operating from central London locations serving its specialist trade.
1990
Transfer majority equity to an employee trustStrategyBackground
The firm undertook a corporate reorganization while preserving significant Maggs family participation.
Action taken
Most of the company's equity was transferred to an employee trust.
Aftermath
The arrangement provided an employee-ownership structure while the family continued to retain a substantial interest.
1932
Negotiate the sale of the Codex SinaiticusOtherBackground
The Soviet government was prepared to sell the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the most important surviving biblical manuscripts, together with a Gutenberg Bible.
Action taken
Maggs Bros negotiated the transaction, ultimately agreeing to a price of £100,000, with British government financial support and a public-subscription mechanism.
Aftermath
The transaction became one of the most celebrated bookselling deals of the inter-war period and transferred the Codex to the British Museum.
Purchase price. £100,000 (1932)
Sources1 sources
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