Singapore’s literary landscape is often associated with modern chain stores and the National Library Board, but beneath the surface lies a quiet world of antiquarian bookshops. These shops carry volumes from the 19th and early 20th centuries, first editions of Southeast Asian literature, and rare prints on regional history. For collectors, researchers, and serious readers, finding an antiquarian bookshop in Singapore can be a challenge, most are small, hidden, and operate with limited hours. This directory covers the key physical stores that regularly stock antiquarian material, along with practical details on location, specialisation, and price ranges.
1. Littered with Books (Bukit Pasoh Road)
Littered with Books, located at 20 Bukit Pasoh Road, is widely regarded as Singapore’s premier shop for rare and secondhand literary works. The shop occupies two floors of a conserved shophouse near the Kreta Ayer area, a short walk from Outram Park MRT. It was opened in 2009 by Helen Goh and has since built a reputation for its curated selection.
The shop’s antiquarian section is on the second floor and includes hardcover first editions, signed copies, and out-of-print fiction from British, American, and Commonwealth authors. Prices for first editions typically range from SGD 30 to SGD 200, but signed copies of notable authors such as Amitav Ghosh or Arundhati Roy can exceed SGD 500. The shop also carries a small collection of rare children’s books, including vintage Puffin editions and illustrated folios.
Beyond the rare books, Littered with Books stocks about 25,000 used volumes covering literature, history, art, and travel. The staff are knowledgeable and can often source specific titles through their network of suppliers in the UK and Australia. The shop is open daily from 11:00 to 20:00 except on major public holidays. Cash and major credit cards are accepted.
For a broader overview of how to combine antiquarian shopping with other sources, see the complete guide to buying and borrowing books in Singapore.
2. BooksActually (Tiong Bahru)
BooksActually, at 9 Yong Siak Street in Tiong Bahru, is one of Singapore’s most iconic independent bookstores. Founded in 2005 by Kenny Leck and Karen Wai, it began as a used-book store and gradually evolved into a retailer of both new and collectible titles. While it carries many new releases, its back room and lower shelves hold a rotating selection of antiquarian and secondhand books.
What distinguishes BooksActually for antiquarian hunters is its focus on Singaporean and Malaysian literature. The store has a dedicated section for out-of-print local works, including early editions of poems by Arthur Yap, novels by Goh Poh Seng, and political memoirs from the 1960s and 1970s. These are priced at SGD 20 to SGD 120, depending on condition and rarity. First editions of Yap’s Down the Line (1980) have been seen at SGD 80.
BooksActually also operates its own publishing imprint, Math Paper Press, which produces limited-run chapbooks and letterpress editions. While not strictly antiquarian, these small-press items, at print runs of 100 to 300 copies, become collectible within a few years. The shop is open Wednesday through Monday, 11:00 to 18:00, closed on Tuesdays. Contact: +65 6222 9195.
If you are looking for other secondhand options in the same area, the best secondhand bookshops page covers additional outlets near Tiong Bahru.
3. Basheer Graphic Books (Bras Basah Complex)
Basheer Graphic Books is a specialist shop at Bras Basah Complex (#01-16, 231 Bain Street) that focuses on art, design, architecture, and photography books. While most of its stock is new or remaindered, owner Basheer Ahmad maintains a small antiquarian corner with rare art monographs, limited-run photography books, and out-of-print catalogues from Southeast Asian artists.
Notable finds in the past have included a signed copy of Singapore: Architecture of a Global City (2004) by Robert Powell, priced at SGD 150, and early exhibition catalogues from the National Gallery Singapore. The shop also receives periodic shipments from university library deaccessions in the UK and the US, which sometimes include scholarly texts on art history from the 1920s to the 1960s. Prices for these range from SGD 15 to SGD 400.
Basheer Graphic Books is open Monday to Saturday, 11:00 to 19:30, and Sunday 12:00 to 18:30. The shop accepts cash, NETS, and credit cards. For those shipping rare purchases within Singapore or overseas, check our guide to international book shipping costs.
4. Select Books (Holland Village)
Select Books at 64A Jalan Kampong Chai Chee (with a second outlet at 9 Jalan Klappa for academic titles) has been a fixture in Singapore’s book scene since 1981. Its specialty is Southeast Asian studies, and it holds one of the largest physical inventories of out-of-print titles on the region. The shop is owned and run by the Choy family.
The antiquarian section here includes early travelogues on Malaya, colonial-era accounts of the Straits Settlements, and first-edition novels set in Singapore from the 1950s to the 1970s. One notable example is a 1953 first edition of The Jungle is Neutral by F. Spencer Chapman, which when available is priced around SGD 250. The shop also carries a good selection of rare botanical and zoological works on the region, often sourced from UK auctions.
Select Books does not have an online catalogue of its rare stock; visits in person are necessary. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 11:00 to 19:00. The shop accepts cash and credit cards. For more on sourcing rare books via mail, see rare book dealers in Singapore.
5. The Bookshelf (Little India)
The Bookshelf is a compact, specialist shop located at 26 Waterloo Street, within the Stamford Arts Centre, in the Little India-Dhoby Ghaut area. It was founded in 2015 by writers and editors who wanted to create a space for literature on paper, with a focus on small presses and used books.
Antiquarian stock is limited but carefully chosen, mostly pre-1970 poetry chapbooks, early Singapore Literature Prize winner copies, and a few signed works of Singaporean novelists like Catherine Lim and Colin Cheong. Prices are moderate: SGD 15 to SGD 60 for most items. The shop also maintains a small cabinet of rare periodicals, including early issues of The Singapore Review and Quarterly Literary Review Singapore, priced at SGD 10 to SGD 30.
The Bookshelf is open Thursday to Sunday, 12:00 to 19:00. It is best to check their Instagram feed before visiting, as opening hours may vary during exhibitions or festivals. The shop collaborates frequently with the Singapore Writers Festival and other literary events; you can find more information on our Singapore literary festival guide.
6. Evernew Bookstore (Chinatown)
Evernew Bookstore, at 5 Smith Street in the Chinatown Complex, is one of the oldest secondhand bookshops in Singapore, operating continuously since the late 1980s. While it is primarily a general secondhand bookstore with tens of thousands of titles stacked on shelves and floor piles, it has a dedicated antiquarian section near the back.
That section includes pre-1970 books on Chinese philosophy, early translations of Confucius and Lao Tzu, and colonial-era textbooks used in Singapore schools. A rare find might be a 1925 edition of The Chinese Classics translated by James Legge, priced at around SGD 200 to SGD 350, depending on condition. The shop also has a corner for old maps and prints of Singapore and Malaya, selling for SGD 20 to SGD 80.
Evernew Bookstore is open daily from 10:30 to 19:30. Payment is cash only. It is worthwhile to talk to the owner, Mr. Tan, who may bring out additional stock kept in storage. For more on heritage-area bookshops, see bookshops in heritage areas.
7. Katong Antique House (Katong)
Katong Antique House at 208 East Coast Road is primarily an antique shop dealing in Chinese porcelain, furniture, and ornaments, but it also has a small but noteworthy collection of antiquarian books. The shop has been run by the Yeo family since the 1960s and is located in a conserved property in the Katong-Joo Chiat area.
The book collection includes early 20th-century children’s books published in the Straits Settlements, colonial-administration reports, and rare cookbooks from the Peranakan community. Prices are variable, a typical colonial-era school primer may cost SGD 30, while a complete set of early Raffles Museum bulletins may be priced at SGD 500 or more. The shop is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays. Payment is cash preferred.
8. NLB’s Rare Materials Collection (via Reference Point)
Though not a shop, the National Library Board’s Rare Materials Collection at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, 100 Victoria Street, is a key resource for antiquarian book enthusiasts. The collection includes over 13,000 items: early maps of Singapore and Malaya, first editions of works by Stamford Raffles, missionary publications from the 1800s, and early Singapore newspapers.
Access is by appointment only, and materials must be viewed in the dedicated Rare Materials Room. You need a valid NLB membership, see NLB library card guide for details. The library also offers interlibrary loan services for certain rare items. While you cannot purchase these items, they represent a living resource for research and identification of antiquarian stock in the market.
9. Online and Auction Sources
Some Singapore-based antiquarian and rare-book dealers operate primarily online, through platforms like eBay, AbeBooks, and Instagram. Notable among them is Bookworm Books, a dealer on AbeBooks (seller since 2001) with about 6,000 titles listed, including many Southeast Asian titles from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their prices range from SGD 20 to SGD 1,000+. Another is Asia Books & Maps, which specialises in rare maps, atlases, and travel books from the 18th and 19th centuries, with listings on AbeBooks starting around SGD 100.
Local auction houses such as 33 Auction and Larasati occasionally include rare books in their sales. You can find catalogues online, and viewing days are typically held at their offices in the Central Business District. For details on importing rare books from overseas, see customs duties on imported books.
10. Seasonal Pop-Ups and Book Fairs
The Singapore Book Fair (held annually at Suntec City Convention Centre) and the Singapore Art Book Fair (organised by the National Gallery) often feature antique and rare-book dealers. The Singapore Book Fair 2024 is scheduled for May 30 to June 8 at Suntec; you can find dates on our Singapore book fairs 2024 page. The Rare Book Fair, a smaller event sometimes held at the Arts House at Old Parliament, is a specific occasion when antiquarian dealers gather. Dates are irregular; subscribing to the Rare Book Circle of Singapore newsletter (free) is a good way to stay updated.
For community swaps and informal book exchange events that sometimes include vintage and rare books, refer to book swap events in Singapore.
Practical Tips for Antiquarian Shoppers
Condition Assessment
Antiquarian books in Singapore are often affected by humidity. Check for mould, foxing (brown spots), and insect damage. Most reputable dealers condition-grade their stock, but it is wise to inspect items personally before buying.
Price Negotiation
Many owners of the shops listed above, especially Evernew Bookstore and Katong Antique House, are open to negotiation, especially for multiple purchases or for items that have been in stock for over a year. Polite bargaining is common.
Payment Methods
Cash is commonly preferred in smaller shops. Larger stores like Littered with Books and Basheer Graphic Books accept credit cards, but carrying SGD 100-200 in cash is advisable for impromptu finds.
Storage and Conservation
If you acquire fragile items, store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Silica gel packs in bookshelves help reduce moisture. For valuable purchases, consider protective archival sleeves; these are available at art-supply stores such as Art Friend (Bras Basah Complex) and Overjoyed (Plaza Singapura).
Transport and Shipping
For large purchases or multiple books, taxis are practical. Some shops (Littered with Books, Select Books) can arrange local delivery for a fee of SGD 10, SGD 20 within Singapore. For overseas shipping, see best sites for used books shipping.
Conclusion
Singapore’s antiquarian book market is small but vibrant, with dedicated shops offering deep collections on Southeast Asian history, literature, and art. Whether you are a serious collector looking for a signed first edition, a casual reader hunting for an out-of-print novel from the 1970s, or a researcher seeking rare colonial-era maps, the city has a handful of addresses worth visiting. The shops listed in this directory, Littered with Books, BooksActually, Basheer Graphic Books, Select Books, The Bookshelf, Evernew Bookstore, and Katong Antique House, represent the core of the scene. Complement these with the NLB’s Rare Materials Collection and periodic fairs, and you will have a comprehensive access to antiquarian books in Singapore.