Our Story
Glenda and I (Andrew) have both been voracious readers starting when we were children and very frequent visitors to public libraries. We have since passed on our passion for reading to our two children and grandchildren.
We began our fine book collecting early in our marriage when we returned from England to live in New Brunswick, Canada. We attended many country auctions to help furnish our home. At one of these auctions, we bought two boxes of books that contained rare French, Italian, Spanish as well as English books. The oldest book was a stunning Pedro Calderon book from 1725 published in Madrid and bound in vellum. Another literary jewel was a limited edition Rockwell Kent illustrated book, The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio. Not your run of the mill books, for sure. So, we headed to the library where we found a copy of John Carter’s ABC for Book Collectors. And that was the start of our adventure in book collecting. Since then we have been active book collectors in Toronto, Chicago, Annapolis, Maryland and now in Nova Scotia where we returned to live after being away for 30 years.
During that time, we have built a library of some 3,000 books and, in 2017 when we decided to open our own book business, we transferred over 1,600 books to Raven & Gryphon Fine Books. To that base we have been adding to our inventory on a weekly basis. Our inventory as of February 2026 is approximately 3,600 books. Of these, some 1,000 are priced at $50 or over and these are listed on the internet. They can be searched by clicking on the little circle with the book that is located just beneath our banner. All books can be viewed by coming for a visit, please call (902)488-6291. Our shop is located in beautiful Hackett's Cove, only minutes away from Peggy's Cove.
In order to sell fine books we need to buy fine books and so we are always interested in purchasing items for our inventory.
Our Family Crest
What's the story behind our business name and logo you might ask? Well, our family's crest, the Cutten crest, goes back to Saxon times in England. It is a demi or half Gryphon. This crest, as you can see in the picture, has the Gryphon holding a seashell, a symbol that the family had participated in the Crusades.
While musing over the name for our family business and the concept of using the Gryphon name our daughter-in-law Maria, whose photos grace this website, asked “Where is the raven?” She knows how much we are fascinated with this incredible bird. So, we added the Raven and we substituted a book for the seashell in our logo, designed by Maria, Glenda and our son Gregory. It became set in stone.
- Our Books
We specialize in literature, history and travel and illustrated books/photography/art books. Our large slection of modern first editions are virtually all in fine condition in fine mylar protected dust jackets.
At present, we have a sizeable horror cinema and literature selection including early first editions of works by King, Koontz, Martin and Gaiman.
To view many of the fine books we have for sale please click on any of the fabulous books featured below this paragraph. You will be immediately taken to our on-line inventory, featuring the book you clicked on. Scroll down that page and you will come to "List This Seller's Books". Click on that and you will see all the books currently listed on the internet for sale, starting with the most recently posted item. You will see a full description of each book plus pictures. And as noted previously you can search the online items by clicking on the little circle with the book.
Fabulous Books
The Geneva Bible acquired the sobriquet "Breeches Bible" because it describes Adam and Eve as having made "breeches" to cover their nakedness. It was the primary Bible of 16th-century English Protestantism.
Not only is Harry's New York Bar, Paris, one of the most famous bars in the world it is also the source of the term "Barfly" - part of out lexicon forever. This book is a wonderful association/presentation copy to British writer and original barfly D.B. Wyndham Lewis. A cornerstone book for any mixology collection.
This novella won the Pulitzer Prize and was the work cited when Hemingway won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.
Illustrated and History Books
Two huge volumes in a box - every Far Side cartoon, over 1,200 pages.
An anthology of women's experiences. Signed by Lynn.
The work of Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff. Father and son combo for almost 40 books.
Canadiana
Two reports and a map
Chief Engineer of Public Works of Canada
Ottawa, 1873 and 1874
$1,500
The Chief Engineer strongly recommended that the canal, also known as the Chignecto Canal, be constructed, but the Upper Canadian politicians rejected it.
Signed thesis. Basically the draft for his book "The Black Loyalists: The Search
for a Promised land in Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone.
Sequel to "Down in Nova Scotia". Scarce first edition of stories - signed by
Dennis.New Acquisitions
Published same year as Dr. Seuss' first book. Eight full page illustrations. Scarce book.
Fabulous artwork and history of this outspoken and political activist with a unique style of painting.
Nova Scotia artist shares her techniques, ideas and her patterns.
Hackett's Cove
Fine book lovers are always welcome in Hackett's Cove - just minutes away from Peggy's Cove. You're invited to view our collection of rare and fine books nestled in the splendor of a small coastal fishing village. At Raven & Gryphon Fine Books, we know that there is nothing quite like holding a rare book in your hands, so please do get in touch to see our selection firsthand on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.
