ABAA Member from 1976. Emeritus Member from 2004 until his death in 2018. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 14, 2012 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.
Bookseller Interviews
A few years ago, Michael Ginsberg embarked upon an archival journey for the ABAA. Recognizing the absence of member histories in the ABAA annals, Michael began conducting video interviews of members at our three annual fairs. The interviews cover members' personal histories as well as their involvement in the rare book trade. The ABAA extends many thanks to Michael, as well as Taylor Bowie, who has also conducted a number of interviews.
ABAA Member from 1976. Emeritus Member from 2004 until his death in 2018. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 14, 2012 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.
Elizabeth Svendsen had a diverse background before entering the antiquarian book trade. She has two Masters Degrees, one in History and one in Criminal Justice, and worked in a variety of positions in the criminal justice field for several years. Elizabeth is also a writer, and co-authored a companion guide to the Harry Potter series. She opened her first shop in 2006. Walkabout Books operates out of Laguna Nigel, CA and specializes in Exploration & Travel, Mountaineering, Polar, and Americana. ABAA Member since 2012. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 14, 2012 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.
Margaret Page was a lifelong bibliophile before she began working as a scout and then opened up her own business in 1990. Page Books specialized in Children's and Illustrated Books, and operated out of Kingston, Ar and later Hillsboro, OH. Margaret was a member of the ABAA from 1997 until 2013. ABAA Member from 1997-2013. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 10, 2010 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.
Michael Buehler obtained a MA in philosophy and worked for 12 years as Director of Research and Development at a health care consultancy firm before entering the rare book trade. A map collector himself, Michael made the jump to selling in 2003. Boston Rare Maps Inc. operates out of Southampton, MA and specializes in Antiquarian Maps, Books, Prints, and Manuscripts from New England and the Northeast. ABAA Member since 2007. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 18, 2012 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
After graduating from Columbia University, Bryan Bilby moved to the west coast and began working in a small bookstore in the Haight. In 1995, Bryan decided to begin selling on his own and operated Chelsea Books for eight years before deciding to move back to the east coast with his wife and continue selling there as Appledore Books. Appledore Books operates out of Waccabuc, NY and specializes in Literature, Art, Scholarly, Children's, Photography, Sports, and Bindings. ABAA Member since 2005. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 18, 2012 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
After graduating Wellesley College and receiving a M.A. in art history from Columbia University, Robin Bledsoe worked for fourteen years as an editor for George Braziller, Yale University Press, and the New York Graphic Society. In 1973, Robin began a part-time catalog business and by 1983 she began selling on her own. Robin Bledsoe, Bookseller operates out of Cambridge, MA and specializes in Equestrian, horses, Art History, Exhibition Catalogues, Gardens, Architecture, Decorative Arts, Photography, Classical Archaeology, Graphic Design, and Book Arts. ABAA Member since 1985. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 9, 2013 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Nicholas Cooke was a lawyer and pastor before he could no longer deny his passion for books and became a full time bookseller in 1997. Nick currently serves as the Southeast Chapter Chair. Black Swan Books is located in Richmond, VA and specializes in Fine Books and Ephemera. ABAA Member since 2010. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 18, 2012 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Franklin Gilliam :: Rare Books was one of the earliest firms to join the ABAA in 1955. Mary took over the business from her husband, Franklin, and since then has been an active member of the Association. Mary has served on the Board and various Committees for many years and recently began her term as Vice-President/Secretary of the Association. Franklin Gilliam :: Rare Books operates out of Charlottesville, VA and specializes in Americana, Law before 1870, Food and Wine, Printed Ephemera, Books About Books, and Manuscripts. ABAA Member since 1986. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Ken Lopez of Hadley, MA established his business in 1981. Ken has served on the Board of Governors and is a past President of the Association (2002-2004). Ken Lopez - Bookseller specializes in Modern First Editions, Vietnam War, Fiction and Poetry by American Indians, Black Literature, Latin American Literature, and Beat and the Sixties. ABAA Member since 1987. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Jeffrey D. Mancevice of Worchester, MA has been an antiquarian bookseller since 1978. Jeffrey specializes in Incunabula, Early Printed Books, Early Science, Reformation, Renaissance, and Theology. ABAA Member since 1982. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Donald ("Rusty") Mott of Howard S. Mott, Inc. in Sheffield, MA was born into the rare book business, but only began selling in 1970 after holding a number of varied and interesting positions. Rusty's father, Howard S. Mott, established the firm in New York City 1936, and it became one of the founding firms of the ABAA. Howard S. Mott, Inc. specializes in First Editions, Americana, Literature, Unusual Imprints, Caribbean (especially Lesser Antilles), Autograph Letters and Manuscripts. ABAA Member since 1970. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Jo Ann Reisler of Vienna, VA has been a bookseller since 1972. Jo Ann Reisler Ltd. specializes in Children's Books, Illustrated Books, Original Illustrative Art, Early Paper Dolls and Toys, Oz and Baumania, Fairy Tales, Pop-Ups and Novelties, Potter, Disney, Suess, N.C. Wyeth, Rackham, and Black Interest. ABAA Member since 1976. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Kenneth W. Rendell of New York, NY got his start in the business in the 1950s when he traded his collection of English medieval coins for a friend's collection of Presidential letters. Ken was hooked by "the feeling of intimacy with history that these letters gave [him]" and quickly moved from dealing in American colonial coinage to American historical letters and documents. As Ken's business grew so did his areas of speciality, and by the 1970s he was a premiere appraiser of archival collections. Kenneth W. Rendell, Inc. specializes in Autographs, Letters, and Manuscripts. ABAA Member since 1963. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Ken Sanders has had a lifelong passion for books and first got into the rare book business in the 1970s when he co-owned The Cosmic Aeroplane. In 1980, he started the Dream Garden Press, a small publishing company that produces regional books about Utah, the Intermountain West, and the Southwest. Ken founded Ken Sanders Rare Books in 1990 in Salt Lake City, UT and became a member of the ABAA in 1996. Ken served on the Board of Governors for six years and was Security Chair. Ken Sanders Rare Books specializes in Western & Native Americana, Explorations and Travels, Utah and Mormons, Modern First Editions, Maps, and Prints. ABAA Member since 1996. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 12, 2008 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.
Robert H. Rubin of Brookline, MA was in the rare book business from 1970 until 2020. Robert H. Rubin Books specializes in Economy, Law, Americana, Philosophy, Social Science, and the History of Ideas. ABAA Member from 1980-2020. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.