Used Bookstores in Toronto: Antiquarian Shops by Interest
Three Toronto used and antiquarian bookshops, from a Bloor Street shop with a book-vending machine to the Danforth, plus the city's antiquarian book fair.
Fabian Roudra Baroi / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
There is a particular joy in a used bookshop: the smell of old paper, the feeling that every shelf is a small treasure hunt, and the chance to hold something that has already had a life. Toronto has a handful that reward a slow afternoon.
This guide groups three used and antiquarian shops by what you might be collecting, and adds the city’s antiquarian book fair for the collectors who want to meet dealers in one room. Every fact comes from the shop’s own page, with an independent source for the fact that it is open, so confirm hours and stock on each site before you go. For new books, see independent bookstores in Toronto, or start at the culture desk.
Where can you find uncommon books and paper artifacts?
The Monkey’s Paw is a Toronto antiquarian shop specializing in uncommon books and paper artifacts from the age of print. It is at 1067 Bloor Street West, just east of the Gladstone Library. The Green Line’s August 2026 roundup of vintage bookstores listed it for used and uncommon books.
The shop is also home to the Biblio-Mat, a randomizing vending machine for old books. It is the kind of detail that turns a browse into a story you tell friends, and we love it. A good first stop if you collect ephemera, or just like surprises.
The Bloor/Gladstone Library at 1101 Bloor Street West, 2016.G0T0 / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
Where do you go for rare, vintage and collectible editions?
The Scribe Bookstore specializes in rare, vintage, collectible and unique editions in all subjects. It is at 375 Danforth Avenue. According to its About page, it opened in 2020 and has roughly ten thousand items, including first editions, signed books and original prints.
The Green Line’s August 2026 roundup described it as taking used books to the next level with rare, vintage and collectible items. Our pick for the collector chasing a first edition.
Danforth Avenue in Toronto.L. W. Yang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Sellers & Newel is at 672 College Street. Its website has Book Collections and Records sections alongside Live Music. The Green Line’s August 2026 roundup described it as a place for used books and live music.
Its live music page listed shows from Saturday, October 24 into November. That mix of shelf and stage is the shop’s signature, and it makes a browse feel like a night out. If you are strolling College Street, it is an easy add-on.
A cyclist on College Street.sookie from Vancouver, Canada / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Where can you meet antiquarian dealers in one room?
The Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair was scheduled for November 13 to 15, 2026, in its second year downtown. The venue was OCAD U Waterfront, 130 Queens Quay East. The fair’s 2026 exhibitor list includes two shops from this guide, The Monkey’s Paw and The Scribe Bookstore. Check the fair’s own page for the next edition.
A fair is a different pace from a shop. It puts many dealers in one room, so you can compare, ask questions and learn what makes one copy more desirable than another, even if you never buy.
What should you look for when you pick up a book?
Start with the spine, the corners and the dust jacket, since those take the most wear. Open the book gently and check that the binding feels firm. Look for a date on the title page, and ask the bookseller about the edition if you are not sure what you are holding. A signed copy or an unusual binding is worth a question, too.
Do not be shy about asking for help. Booksellers in this corner of the trade are usually happy to explain why a particular copy matters. You do not need to be an expert, only curious. And if you are shopping for a gift, a modest book in good condition beats an expensive one that is falling apart.
Handle books with clean, dry hands, and keep your bag off the shelves. Those are small courtesies, and the shop will notice.
How do you shop for used and antiquarian books?
Start with a subject rather than a title. Tell the bookseller what you love and let them show you a shelf. Ask about condition, and look inside the cover before you decide. A first edition is only as good as its jacket and its binding, and a good bookseller will say so.
Set a small budget and a loose theme, such as cookbooks, poetry, old maps or a favourite decade. A theme turns a pile of random books into a collection, and it gives you something to tell the bookseller. Keep a short list of authors on your phone so you can spot a bargain when it appears.
Give yourself time. Used bookshops are a slow pleasure, and the best finds are often on the shelf you did not plan to visit. If you are shopping for a gift, bring the recipient’s favourite author or era and ask what the shop has near it.
Bring a tote bag and a little patience. The reward for a slow afternoon is often the one book you did not know to look for, and it will probably be on the shelf next to the one you came to find. Take a photo of the shelf label before you leave so you can find the section again next time.
Pair a visit with a walk. A day on Bloor Street West or the Danforth can include a coffee stop and a second shop, which is how most book lovers like to spend a Saturday. If the weather turns, our rainy-day things to do list pairs well with a slow browse. Send this to the friend you would bring.
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