POCATELLO — A local bookstore that specializes in rare antiquarian volumes has recently acquired a piece of American history that may have passed through the hands of Benjamin Franklin.

White Owl Books and Import is more than a rare book shop — it’s a living library where every bookshelf is filled with first edition volumes, aging ephemera, mysterious mystic bindings and storied collections by authors who are revered around the world.

While the store’s owner Jacob Hubers has a small selection of secondhand books and modern amenities, he primarily focuses on books that are at least 50 years old. Much of what is in the collection are hardback and leather bound, richly decorated covers that showcase the craftsmanship and dedication that went into every crease and corner.

Not only are these books hard to find, but Hubers believes he may be the only rare book dealer with a specific retail presence in the entire state of Idaho, adding another layer of exclusivity and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

From fantasy books and fairy tales to globe-spanning world history, the timeless tomes that Hubers sells are rich with historical significance. Each piece is largely unchanged from the state in which Hubers received them, with random pages filled with pressed flowers, scrabbled notes, 100-year-old library stamps and the fingerprints of bygone philosophers and ordinary readers who treasured each turn of the page.

One of Hubers’ most recent acquisitions may be his rarest and oldest yet, a biblical volume of 10 religious imprints that Benjamin Franklin published in the 18th century. While it’s unknown whether Franklin himself handled the book, Hubers believes it is possible due to Franklin’s fastidious nature and his close association with the publishing process.

“It is a collection of religious imprints and the most notable of them is the Westminster Confession of Faith, which he was basically commissioned to print by the Philadelphia Synod,” Hubers said. “It was published and printed in 1745 and it is quite a scarce copy, particularly because a lot of these were pulled apart for the individual imprints. In this case, it is nearly complete. It’s missing a couple pages toward the back for the directory of family worship and table of chief matters, but considering it’s got eight or nine complete imprints, it’s pretty impressive. Most of the time you’re only getting one or two of the imprints at a time, because (people) cut out the bindings. They take them out individually and a lot of people try to sell them off individually, which is kind of disappointing, and gets into the idea of how you want to preserve and what the best way is to do that.”

Hubers does not do any restoration work on the books he receives and it’s always been his philosophy that any restoration work should be left up to the person who is ultimately going to have the item in their collection.

“I’ve had one or two people reach out to me online and tell me, ‘This should go into a museum,’” Hubers said. “I think that’s an interesting point. In the rare book community, there is a lot of debate on at what point should it go into a museum or a library and how well do those institutions necessarily take care of their donations? I always make the offer that if somebody is interested in donating it to a museum or some kind of collection for the public, I am willing to offer a fairly significant discount on the book, just because I know it’ll be preserved and offered to the public.”

Hubers continued, “However, there is a large market for these kinds of books, and to kind of summarize, public institutions aren’t always the best at maintaining these collections. There’s also a considerable cost that goes into maintaining those collections. You’ll notice a lot of books around here have old library markings. These are books that were originally donated to institutions and then the institution said, ‘We don’t want it anymore’, so they either tossed it or donated it or put it in a library sale for a buck. There’re valid points on either end of the spectrum.”

Much of the appeal and patina of these books is reflected in the way Hubers approaches rare books. They feel as if they are pulled from a microcosm in time, as if passed hand to hand before reaching the store. Many fabled items have come and gone from White Owl Books and Import, including a secondhand account of the Salem Witch Trials from the late 1600s that sold for $1,500. The oldest book that Hubers sold was printed in 1614, a copy of “Rerum Belgicarum” by Johannes Murcie written in Latin.

While a portion of White Owl Books and Import’s income is from area locals who pass through its doors, Hubers has shipped his books to interested parties across the world. From China to Australia, his rare offerings pique interest from collectors in every corner of the globe. Hubers provides an essential service to those who find value in the weathered, yellowing pages of relics from history’s past. Each indentation, marking and perforated edge is a memory of those who have handled the book over the decades and even centuries.

“I think in terms of books as a physical form,” he said. “With more and more things going online, I think it’s great to have that access, but I think it’s important to have a physical repository somewhere, whether that be public libraries and institutions or, as many people will make, the argument for private collections. I think the preservation of history is a very admirable goal, and particularly, even the unpleasant sides of history. It’s important to remember those aspects of history so that we aren’t doomed to repeat them.”

One of Hubers’ priorities with his shop is getting younger people interested in reading. With so many of the up-and-coming generations living in a digital age, he believes it’s important to have a physical representation or a memorial of important books. For Hubers, getting books into the hands of interested young adults and children is paramount.

“I’ve got an entire free bookshelf of children’s and educational books,” Hubers said. “One of the big reasons I get into this is getting books into the hands of kids and really anybody who wants them. Just because, to me, reading has been a very important part of my life and I think that it’s important for anybody to have access to books, regardless of their financial means.”

That philosophy was recently put into action, when Hubers reached out to fellow bookstores Walrus & Carpenter Books, The Hygge Place and Hares & Hatters Bookshop for a free children’s book giveaway in Historic Downtown Pocatello on May 30 and May 31.

For Hubers, the rare bookstore business can often be a challenge due to the inherent nature associated with buying, selling and collecting these important pieces of history, but he finds fulfillment every day when he sees the smiling faces of his satisfied customers. Simply being a part of history and as a preserver of the page has its own merits and rewards.

“One of the big reasons that I do this is just to have the opportunity of handling each of these really incredible pieces of history, even if it is only for a short period of time,” Hubers said. “Just having had the experience of being able to handle it, being able to find somewhere where it will be treasured and valued is such a fulfilling thing. In terms of my own experience, I’ve rescued a lot of books that would otherwise be donated or trashed altogether. Unless something is completely unreadable or beyond repair, I think that it is important to preserve that, particularly in this day and age.”

White Owl Books and Import, located at 427 N. Main St., Suite H, is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment during the week.