The history
Predrag Milovanović, the founder of Scientific and Bibliophilic Antiquarian Book Store – Orfelin [Научни и библиофилски антикваријат Орфелин]
Sigedon Books & Antiques (Sigedon ltd.) is an online shop specialized in rare and antiquarian books, periodicals, engravings, maps, manuscripts and other valuable collectibles on paper. It was opened on eBay in 2008. The store is actually a successor of Naučni i bibliofilski antikvarijat – Orfelin [Scientific and Bibliophilic Antiquarian Book Store – Orfelin] founded in Belgrade in 1985. It was founded by the late Predrag Milovanović, a passionate book lover, interested in researching, acquiring and preserving rare and valuable books, which he viewed as an essential part of not just any one nations cultural history, but as a foundation of cultural history of humanity and civilization as a whole. Orfelin was the first privately owned antique bookshop in Yugoslavia but also on the whole Balkan peninsula. In 1990 Predrag married Vesna and the business description shifted from a sole trader’s passion to a family business.
Predrag and Vesna Milovanović, a few days prior to the re-opening of the bookshop at the new location in Belgrade, Knez Mihajlova street, 2008.
The bookstore was quickly recognized as the biggest and best stocked in the Balkans. The store consisted of only a fraction of his immense private library of over 70 000 books. Initially, the store was specialized in books from the countries of former Yugoslavia and Balkan Peninsula in general, but over time it grew to encompass valuable books in Latin, German, French, English, Russian and other languages. The books cover many diverse subjects such as history, science, medicine, art & art history, literary classics, poetry, religion, etc. From it’s founding the store was host for events, public speakers, illustrious guests and movie shootings. Today the store expanded it’s offer to include posters, historical photographs, ephemera and other collectibles. We also offer free professional opinion and appraisal of books, manuscripts and prints.
Predrag and Marko Milovanović during the Night of the Museums (Ноћ Музеја) event in Belgrade, Serbia, 2010.
Today the store is run by Marko Milovanović, Predrag and Vesna’s son. Marko worked side by side with his father at the bookstore since 2009 and engaged in managing the ebay store in 2011. He spent the few years to follow between his studies in philosophy at the Philosophy faculty at Belgrade University and learning about antique books from one of the most knowledgeable men in the trade. During those years Vesna decided to withdraw from the business. After Predrag’s passing in 2015 Marko also withdrew from business just to re-open in summer of 2017. Keen on keeping the family tradition alive and to offer a place for collectors and history enthusiasts to meet, Marko continues today is father’s store with a clear vision of the future.
Marko Milovanovic runs the store now.
In mid 2015 we started a blog and today it’s updated on a biweekly basis. We envisioned this blog as a place of gathering for all book lovers, history enthusiasts, collectors and people who’d like to get acquainted with the vibrant world of the antiquarian market. When running an online store it is often the case that we don’t have enough room to present to our buyers the full, rich and enlightening historical and cultural background of particular items in our collection. Here we hope to provide that and to engage in discourse based on the feedback from our viewers. We encourage you to contact us with any question you might have about any item or subject and to engage in discussions and leave your feedback in the comment sections. Welcome to Sigedon Books and Antiques.