About Temple Bar Bookshop
Temple Bar Bookshop specialises in rare, antiquarian and secondhand books, and is a long established presence in the neighbourhood. This is the kind of place you wander into and immediately feel the weight of history: oak shelves, carefully catalogued stacks and a preference for older bindings, local history and Irish interest titles. Collectors and researchers often find the shop invaluable when searching for hard-to-find Irish imprints, out-of-print local histories or unusual academic texts. The owner and staff pride themselves on provenance and will happily discuss the background of particular volumes, from bibliographic details to binding types and editions.
What to Expect
Expect tidy, labelled sections and a calm atmosphere that encourages browsing rather than hurried riffling. Pricing spans mid to premium, depending on rarity. There are often well-preserved 19th and early 20th century books, as well as vintage travelogues and poetry collections. The inventory changes slowly; a serious collector will find it worthwhile to leave contact details and check back periodically as new acquisitions arrive from estates and private libraries.
Insider Tips
- Contact the shop in advance if you are hunting a specific title; staff can search their catalogues or set aside items.
- Ask about their valuation service if you are considering selling a small collection; many antiquarian shops in Temple Bar buy whole libraries.
- Pair your visit with a walk along Essex Bridge and a stop at the nearby National Photographic Archive for a day of visual culture and printed treasures.
Temple Bar Bookshop is for the patient browser and the serious collector alike. It offers a quieter counterpoint to the louder parts of Temple Bar, and it rewards visitors with deep, richly textured finds that connect you to Dublin's literary past.