Fine Books, an Aladdin’s cave for all book lovers

AN Aladdin’s Cave for book lovers. That is how Fine Books has been described, and with full justification. This is not just another book shop, but rather the place to go in Mallorca to hunt out rare and collectable books, prints and maps.

For those who really appreciate books and arts the store offers three floors all crammed full of not just rare and old books, but also art, postcards and maps, some hundreds of years old. There are original editions of books, including signed ones, that date back to 1869.

Shop owner Rodney Browne is originally from the south of England, where he owned four book shops.

He brought his love of books and all things printed to Mallorca and set up Fine Books just off Plaza Santa Eulalia in the lanes behind the Cathedral on Calle Morey, in the heart of Palma’s old town, seven years ago.

Having three floors housing more than 60,000 books, the shop offers all sorts of books from antique, to rare and collectable, in fact everything a serious book lover could want.

There is a truly Dickensian feel to the labyrinthine shop – as customers browse there is no telling what literary gem them may discover nestling on the shelves.

As well as individual tomes there are whole sets of rare collections, as well as many antique maps from all over the world, dating back as far as the 16th century.

He is always on the look-out for old and collectable books and will make a cash settlement on the spot.

If you have wondered what that treasured book is worth take it in for an honest appraisal and valuation. He is particularly interested in old originals, signed collectables, first editions, old atlases and prints.

He is also interested in full collections by an author, although not so much in the modern holiday-read type of book.

Over the years he has bought and collected many treasured books, one in particular being a signed copy of Queen Victoria’s own book given to the Vicar of Balmoral in 1869 by the Prince Consort, worth hundreds of Euros. Another was a history book of Mallorca that dated back to 1716 written in English by a doctor who lived here in the 17th Century – the list is endless.

Carrer Morey, 7, 07001 Palma

Tel: 971 723 797