A PROUD 37 YEAR LEGACY

Since 1989 Unicorn Bookshop is a legacy name in the book trade.  From humble beginnings it has earned a revered reputation internationally as a leading purveyor of quality hard to find books, historic newspapers, posters, maps and ephemera.

1989 Founded

Unicorn Bookshop was established in a small brick and mortar shop in Alnwick Street in the historic regional town of Warkworth, New Zealand by the late Richard C.F. Wasley (1944 - 2011).  Records confirm that Unicorn Bookshop remained in this stop until at least 1993, as the shop features in Harry Bioletti's popular book on Warkworth history.

1994-2003  Shop relocated 

Sometime between 1994 and 2003 Richard Wasley relocated the shop around the corner to 15 Neville Street, where it remained for years a well-known part of the local Warkworth retail community. 

2011 Ownership change

Richard Wasley passed away in May 2011, and the business changed owners soon after. 

2014  Ownership change, shop refurbished, business digitalised.

The business changed hands in September 2014, to new owners Karen and Justin Sollitt.  The Neville Street shop was completely refurbished and relaunched in October 2014, as well as the business being established in digital trading.

2016  Unicorn Bookshop goes vintage and 100% digital

After a 27 year institutional association with the Warkworth retail community, Unicorn Bookshop responded to the changing retail landscape. The business was relocated to this custom digital platform, as well as recalibrated to specialise only in its range of vintage, rare, and antiquarian books, that was traditionally only a small part of the retail store business.

2018  Newspapers, maps, ephemera added

Unicorn Bookshop expanded its product range to include ephemera and paper derivative memorabilia.

2019  TradeMe store opened

Unicorn Bookshop established a professional seller storefront on the TradeMe digital platform.

2020  Kauri Books acquisition

Unicorn Bookshop acquired the stock/business of Kauri Books, prominent rare book dealers in Auckland, and merged this into Unicorn Bookshop's digital platform.

2021  Facebook interest groups established

Unicorn commenced establishing several Facebook nostalgia groups to share/sell items of the specific vintage collections that its procures. Today Unicorn owns eight Facebook groups that have since gained an audience numbering in the 10,000s worldwide.

2026  Unicorn Bookshop today

Vintage, out of print, rare, and antiquarian books, as well as newspapers, maps, charts, posters and ephemera is now all Unicorn does.

The quaint little shop that Richard Wasley started all those years ago, is today a leading international book dealer, that serves customers throughout New Zealand and across 42 countries.