About Heribert Tenschert
Established in 1977, Heribert Tenschert recently celebrated 45 years as one of the world's premiere dealers of illuminated medieval manuscripts and rare books. The primary mission of our organisation is to assist bibliophiles and institutions in building up their collections by furnishing them with the finest copies, by providing expert advice, and by publishing groundbreaking academic research.
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Dr. Heribert Tenschert has built his business from the ground up with an obsessive focus on gathering the most beautiful illustrated books from the past eight centuries. By seeking not only to collect the most important editions, but in particular to obtain the finest and most appealing copies of these enduring achievements of humanity, he has assembled some of the world’s most significant collections in several areas, among them the world’s largest collection of printed Books of Hours.
Over the course of his 45-year career, Heribert Tenschert has made his name as a **dealer of only the rarest and most precious books on the market, with a particular emphasis on illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. **His expertise and vast knowledge of the field have allowed him to determine the origin and provenances to numerous previously unknown books. This emphasis on quality and scholarship is also evident in Tenschert's ambitious catalogues, which are authored in collaboration with renowned experts.
Throughout his career Tenschert has established important relationships with institutions the world over, as well as helped many private clients to build a collection that suits their interest, taste and budget.
For his exceptional merits and discoveries in the field of manuscripts and books, he was named "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the Minister of Culture of the French Republic. He was presented with the Humboldt Society Medal and in 2010 was awarded an honorary doctorate by his alma mater, the University of Freiburg im Breisgau.
Contact Us
We look forward to hearing from you. You may contact us at the following address and telephone number from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Visitors are always welcome, though only by appointment.
Antiquariat Bibermühle AG
Bibermühle 1
8262 Ramsen, Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)52 742 05 75
Fax. +41 (0)52 742 0579
Or, contact us using the form below:
taz, 12 March 2024 [German]
“Lesen und lernen und lieben”
Heribert Tenschert ist Antiquar und sammelt und verkauft kostbarste Druckwerke. Gerade im Angebot: ein Messbuch für 680.000 Euro. Wie kam er dazu?
The Book Collector, Autumn 2023
For getting on for fifty years now the name ofHeribert Tenschert has stood in the world of books as a memorial of splendour. This has been commemorated by a series of catalogues, large in format, polychrome in design, learned in text, arnd astounding both in content and diversity. By Nicolas Barker.
The Book Collector, Winter 2021
There can be no doubt that the catalogues, each one a substantial monument to its subject, that Heribert Tenschert has published over the last half-century, have been the grandest, in scope and physical form, produced by any bookseller in that period. By Nicolas Barker.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 29 April 2021 [German]
A surprisingly large-format gem: Claude de Toulongeon's book of hours is for sale at Heribert Tenschert. By Andreas Platthaus.
NZZ on Sunday, 30 August 2015 [German]
Heribert Tenschert is the most important antiquarian of our time. His collection of printed Books of Hours is now completed, at over 375 volumes of overwhelming beauty. By Manfred Papst.
Architectural Digest, March 2019 [German]
Hardly anything is as outstanding as the illustrated French book of the 19th century. The antiquarian Heribert Tenschert reflects in his "Univers Romantique" the wavering of the Grande Nation between freedom and restriction. By Oliver Jahn.
Weltkunst, March 2019 [German]
At the Bibermühle, Heribert Tenschert brings together unique, lavishly-illustrated splendid editions. His compiled "Univers Romantique" tells of Europe's most luxurious epoch of book culture. By Andreas Platthaus.
Audi magazin, 2013 [German]
His collection of rare books and illuminated manuscripts is considered the most valuable of its kind, his estate at Schaffhausen is a cathedral honouring the art of printing: visiting the fairytale kingdom of antiquarian Heribert Tenschert. By Brigitte Ulmer.