A LIFE IN THE RARE BOOK TRADE

"The enormous multiplication of books in every branch of knowledge is one of the greatest evils of this age."
-Edgar Allen Poe, 1842

This quote is mentioned in The Last Bookseller, A Life in the Rare Book Trade by Gary Goodman (2021), and firmly cements my conclusion that Edgar Allen Poe would have never become a member of the NBS, much less a happy one. Aside from numismatic-related books, I occasionally indulge myself by reading of the joys and sorrows of book collecting and book-selling. Commonly referred to as "books about books," these tomes provide companionship, not to mention comfort, to those of us who enjoy spending quality time with a book, as well as those in the heated throes of assembling the perfect library. After years of serious book buying, it seems only natural to want to get into the lives (and heads) of those who supply us with our cherished reading matter.

Despite the brick and mortar bookshop becoming a vanishing breed, there are those who still forge ahead and go out on a financial limb to live the dream. While I make most of my book purchases on-line, there's still nothing like browsing in a bookstore. Accidents happen here, and you can stumble upon something you weren't looking for, much less even knew existed. As musician David Bowie once observed, "You always find the book you didn't know you wanted" at a book store.

Thanks. As a bibliophile in general (not just numismatic), I enjoy reading books like these about the trade. One meets a fascinating range of great people and "characters" who share the love of knowledge.

This week the New York Times published an encouraging article about the young people entering the book trade today. Here's an excerpt, but be sure to read the complete piece online. -Editor

Ms. Romney is an established seller known to Pawn Stars fans as the show's rare books expert. But at 37, she represents a broad and growing cohort of young collectors who are coming to the trade from many walks of life; just across the aisle, Luke Pascal, a 30-year-old former restaurateur, was presiding over a case of letters by Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

Michael F. Suarez, the director of the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, said that these days, his students are skewing younger and less male than a decade ago, with nearly one-third attending on full scholarships.

Of course, most entry-level collectors can't plunk down hundreds of thousands of dollars for a first edition. But by frequenting estate sales and used bookstores, scouring eBay for hidden gems and learning how to spot value in all kinds of items, enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s have amassed collections that reflect their own tastes and interests.

Their work has been elevated by prizes from organizations and sellers such as Honey & Wax in Brooklyn, which recognize efforts to create the most ingenious, or thoughtful, or original collections, as opposed to the most valuable, Professor Suarez said. As a result, they are helping to shape the next generation of a hobby, and a rarefied trade.

Several young attendees stood out among the business-attire-and-book-core crowd at the fair — in particular Laura Jaeger, a petite 22-year-old with a shock of pink hair. Her mother, Jennifer Jaeger, owns Ankh Antiquarian Books in Chadstone, Australia, which specializes in books about Ancient Egypt; Laura is in the process of becoming a partner in the business.

She plans to expand its collection to reflect her interests, she said, like metaphysics and photography. But I still know my Greek, Roman, Egyptian rare books really, really well, she said. I've been able to value books for a few years now.

Kendall Spencer, 30, also hopes to leave his mark on the antiquarian book world. A Georgetown Law graduate who became enamored with rare books while researching Frederick Douglass, he is working as an apprentice at DeWolfe & Wood Rare Books while he prepares to take the Massachusetts bar exam.

If you walk around here, there's no one behind a booth that looks like me, said Mr. Spencer, who is Black.

To read the complete article, see:
Meet the New Old Book Collectors (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/07/style/rare-used-book-collectors.html)