Florence Shay was one of the great booksellers of the past century. Florence started her Chicago firm Titles Inc. in 1972 and became an ABAA member in 1976. She was an active member of the association and played an instrumental role in bringing an international antiquarian book fair to Chicago. Florence was also the author of a much loved blog. Titles Inc. specialized in First Editions, Chicagoiana, Americana, Books about Books, Illustrated Books, Art & Decorative Arts, Poetry, Children's Books, Leather Sets, and Lakeside Classics. ABAA Member from 1976 until her passing in 2012. Interviewed by Daniel Weinberg of Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc. on July 15, 2012 at Titles, Inc. in Highland Park, IL.
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.
Florence Shay was one of the great booksellers of the past century. Florence started her Chicago firm Titles Inc. in 1972 and became an ABAA member in 1976. She was an active member of the association and played an instrumental role in bringing an international antiquarian book fair to Chicago. Florence was also the author of a much loved blog. Titles Inc. specialized in First Editions, Chicagoiana, Americana, Books about Books, Illustrated Books, Art & Decorative Arts, Poetry, Children's Books, Leather Sets, and Lakeside Classics. ABAA Member from 1976 until her passing in 2012. Interviewed by Daniel Weinberg of Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc. on July 15, 2012 at Titles, Inc. in Highland Park, IL.
Stuart Bennett is a past President (2008-2010) of the ABAA. He was a book auctioneer at Christie's and Sotheby's in the 1970s and has been an antiquarian bookseller since 1980. Stuart Bennett Rare Books operates out of Belmont, Massachusetts, twenty minutes from downtown Boston. Stuart's first novel, The Perfect Visit (2011) tells the story of two bibliophiles who go back in time to rescue lost books and manuscripts. He is also author of an acclaimed historical study, Trade Bookbinding in the British Isles 1660-1800 (2004), available from Oak Knoll Press. Stuart specializes in English Literature printed before 1850: Fiction, Verse, Satire, Philosophy, Criticism & Literary Controversies, and also in Children's Books printed before 1850. ABAA Member since 1990. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
John W. Freas founded Tamerlane Books of Havertown, PA with his wife in 1977. Tamerlane Books specializes in Illustrated Books, Prints, Ephemera, Art Books, Travel, Sporting Books, Historical and Literary Paintings and Sculpture. ABAA Member since 1982; Emeritus Member since 2023. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Jack Hanrahan of J & J Hanrahan in Wells, ME has been selling books with his wife, Joyce, since 1960. J & J Hanrahan specializes in Early North American Imprints, Appraisals, Sendak, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. ABAA Member from 1971 until his death in 2017. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Gordon Hollis of Golden Legend, Inc. in Beverly Hills, CA taught English at the collegiate level before becoming a rare bookseller in 1981. Gordon served on the Board of Governors from 1992-1993 and was President of the Southern California Chapter from 2004-2006. Golden Legend, Inc. specializes in Dance, Theatre, Costume (including Color Plate and Prints), Fine Prints, and English Literature. ABAA Member since 1984. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.
Priscilla Juvelis of Kennebunkport, ME has been an antiquarian bookseller since 1980. She served on the Board of Governors from 1988-2002 and was President of the Association from 1998-2000. Priscilla has also served as President of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Antiquarian Booksellers (MARIAB) and as a Trustee to Manuscript Society. ABAA Member since 1983. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
After a career in the military, Frank S. Klein took over his father's book store in the 1970's and truly made it his own by delving into the world of antiquarian books. The Bookseller, Inc. is located in Akron, OH and is still a family business, as Frank works alongside his daughter, Andrea. They specialize in U.S. Military, Aviation, Aeronautics, Lighter-than-Air, Ohioana and Old Northwest, Maps, Atlases and Postcards, and Americana. ABAA Member from1989-2019. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Peter Kraus of Ursus Rare Books in Manhattan, NY has been in the book business since he was a young man. Ursus Rare Books specializes in Art Books, Illustrated Books, Art, Architechture, Natural History, Decorative Master Prints and Watercolours, First Editions and Travel. ABAA Member since 1974. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
David M. Lesser, Fine Antiquarian Books LLC is located in Woodbridge, CT. David practiced law before becoming a bookseller in 1989 and a member of the ABAA in 1993. David served on the Board of Governors and chaired the Ethics and Standards Committee. David M. Lesser, Fine Antiquarian Books LLC specializes in Americana: Colonial, Revolutionary, Early Federal, Presidency, Political and Social Issues, Slavery, Civil War, Afro-Americana, Reconstruction, Economics, Banking, Trade, Law, and Early and Unusual American Imprints. ABAA Member since 1993. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
David Lilburne founded Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints with his wife Cathy in 1977. David is a former President of the Association (2006-2008). He served on the Board of Governors for several years, and sat as Chair of the House Committee. Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints is located in Cold Spring, NY and specializes in Voyages and Travel, Australasia, Antarctica, China, Books, Maps, Prints, Ephemera, and Photography in all fields. ABAA Member since 1984. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on April 8, 2009 at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Kevin Johnson founded Royal Books, Inc. in 1998. Prior to entering the profession, Kevin worked for the government and had founded a small record label. Today, he is a leading expert on Modern First Editions. Kevin is the author of The Dark Page: Books That Inspired American Film Noir (1950-1965), a two volume full-color guide to first edition sources of film noir. Kevin was a faculty member of the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar for several years. Royal Books, Inc. is located in Baltimore, MD specializes in Modern Literature, Books Into Film, Screenplays and Film Ephemera, Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, African-American Literature, and Books on Film and Music. ABAA Member since 2002. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on April 10, 2010 at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Ken Karmiole of Santa Monica, CA got his start in the trade in 1970. By 1972 he had established his own business, Kenneth Karmiole Bookseller, Inc., and became an ABAA member in 1976. Ken has served on the Board of Governors and as Membership Committee Chair. Ken is also an active alumnus at UCLA, where he received his masters in library science. In 2002 he endowed the Karmiole Fellowship, which each year supports one student in the study of rare books and manuscripts, and in 2006 Ken established the Kenneth Karmiole Endowment for Rare Books and Manuscripts, which supports the acquisition of special collections throughout UCLA's libraries. Kenneth Karmiole Bookseller, Inc. specializes in Early Printing, Travel, History of Printing, Science and Technology, and Incunabula. ABAA Member since 1976. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Owen D. Kubik of Kubik Fine Books in Dayton, OH has been in the book business since 1986. Owen is a past President of the Midwest Chapter, and he specializes in Roman Catholic History and Theology of all types, as well as Military History, History, and Historical Fiction. ABAA Member since 1990. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Allen & Patricia Ahearn have owned and operated Quill & Brush in Dickerson, MD since 1976, but began collecting and cataloguing books in the early 1960s. Quill & Brush specializes in First Editions, American & English Literature, Signed & Inscribed Books, Mystery & Detective Fiction, Art: Silk Screens, Prints and Drawings, and Author Price Guides. They also conduct Appraisals and specialize in Collection Development. ABAA Member Since 1986. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.