Who we are

Ankh Antiquarian Books, founded in 1989 by Jennifer Jaeger, is a premier destination for rare antiquarian, New and Second-hand books specialising in Ancient Egypt and History. Jennifer has a BA from Swinburne University with majors in Literature, Media & Philosophy.

A collage of black and white photos showing a woman next to a truck with 'Jaeger Rover Spares Parts' written on it, a storefront called Roverco, and interior images of a bookstore with shelves full of books and stacks on tables, accompanied by the text 'From humble beginnings started as a single bookshelf in Roverco, 1989 - a legacy built over decades'.

Our Story

A woman with short blonde hair, sitting at a table with a black tablecloth, working on a laptop. The table has books, papers, and various items. Behind her are display boards with pictures and posters, and a brown paper bag. She is wearing a black top with a white skirt with black polka dots.

Originally Ankh Antiquarian Books was a book exchange at Roverco; which was one of Jennifer’s early businesses, which was a classic car parts company in Oakleigh.

With only a single bookshelf dedicated to Ancient Egypt. Ankh moved to its current location in 1991.

The book exchange was sold and my interest in Ancient Egypt and other ancient civilizations was given free rein.

Ankh grew into a thriving business with nearly 15,000 books and personalized sourcing services globally.

In 2019 Jennifer was joined by her daughter Laura in the business, ensuring a seamless generational transition.

Visits to the shop, now an established home for Egyptology and history enthusiasts, Rare book viewings are only by appointment.

Additionally, Ankh boasts a robust online presence, catering to a global audience of collectors and researchers.

You can find us on Ebay and Biblio and soon ABE.

Our collection includes back copies of notable magazines such as…

KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt (USA), the Egyptian Archaeology Bulletin (EES UK), and Minerva: The International Review of Ancient Art and Archaeology and The Nile, an Australian Magazine.

A man and a woman wearing masks, sitting at a table, and looking at a book at the 2022 Antiquarian Book Fair.
A newspaper article titled "The New Collectors of Old Books" featuring multiple images of people at a book fair or bookstore, including a close-up of an open book with handwritten notes, a woman with a folder, a young man in a suit standing among bookshelves, two women with masks holding books, a woman with glasses and tattoos, and a woman in an orange jacket.

Connecting with international booksellers and expanding our horizons

Being featured in The Sunday Times was a significant moment for us at Ankh Antiquarian Books. It highlighted our passion for rare and antiquarian books while showcasing the connections we’ve built within the global bookselling community.

Traveling internationally allows us to source exceptional books, reconnect with old friends, and collaborate with esteemed booksellers worldwide.

A lovely customer went out of their way to pick up a physical copy of The Sunday Times and send it to us, it truly means the world!

Moments like these remind us how special our book-loving community is, and we’re beyond grateful for the support.

In 1990, Ankh Antiquarian Books became a representative for the Egypt Exploration Society in Australia, for the next 23 years we actively promoted society publications including the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology and the Egyptian Archaeology Bulletin.

We still encourage Egyptophiles to join the EES and their local societies.

Our Associations

– Egypt Exploration Society

Contact us

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