Craig R. Olson left non-profit administration, and the mainland, in 2001 for the island of Islesboro three miles off the coast of Maine to pursue his passion for books. He started in a bindery learning bookbinding, and in 2004 established his business as an antiquarian dealer. Artisan Books & Bindery operates out of Islesboro, ME, and specializes in Architecture, Art, Design, Gardens, Fine Press, and Frank Lloyd Wright. ABAA Member since 2011. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 9, 2013 at the Boston International 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.
Craig R. Olson left non-profit administration, and the mainland, in 2001 for the island of Islesboro three miles off the coast of Maine to pursue his passion for books. He started in a bindery learning bookbinding, and in 2004 established his business as an antiquarian dealer. Artisan Books & Bindery operates out of Islesboro, ME, and specializes in Architecture, Art, Design, Gardens, Fine Press, and Frank Lloyd Wright. ABAA Member since 2011. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 9, 2013 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Jim Presgraves got his start in the book business at the young age of 12 after attending an auction and he’s never looked back. He established a bookstore in 1973 after years of private quotation and catalog sales. Bookworm & Silverfish operated out of Wytheville, VA, and specialized in 19th Century Sheet Music, Americana, Appraisals, Genealogy, General, Technical, Virginia, and West Virginia. He was an ABAA Member from 1977 to 2022. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Bud Plant began collecting and selling comic books as an adolescent, and later owned comic shops and organized comic-related events throughout California. In 1972 his interests expanded to include book illustration, and he began attending antiquarian book fairs. Bud established his first book business in 1987 and became a member of the ABAA in 2006. Bud Plant & Hutchison Books operates out of Cedar Ridge, CA, and specializes in Art Reference, Children’s, and Illustrated Books. ABAA Member since 2006. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 18, 2012 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Don Lindgren has been involved with in varying ways books since he was a teenager, from promoting bestsellers at Barnes & Noble during their chain expansion to supplying intellectuals with their obscure academic needs at Powell’s Chicago bookstore. Other careers tempted him away from books for a while, but he returned to the trade in the late 1990’s and established Rabelais Inc. in 2006. Don became a member of the ABAA in 2011. He serves on the Board of Governors, chairs the Internet Committee, and is a member of the Book Fair, Public Relations, and Planning Committees. Rabelais Inc. operates out of Biddeford, ME, and specializes in Artists’ Books, Cocktails, Cookbooks, Farm and Garden, Gastronomy, History of Food, Rare Periodicals, and Wine. ABAA Member since 2011. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Like many booksellers, it was a passion for books that brought Peter Blackman into the trade, first as a collector, then as a dealer. With an emphasis on research, a command of a number of European languages, and an interest in illustrated plates, Peter founded White Fox Rare Books and Antiques in 2007. White Fox Rare Books and Antiques operates out of West Windsor, VT, and specializes in Illustrated Plate Books, Foreign Language Literature, Color Plate Books, Children’s Books, Early Printed Books, and Faux Books. ABAA Member since 2010. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 18, 2012 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Sheryl Jaeger co-founded Eclectibles with Ralph Gallo in 1991, but it wasn’t until 1996 that she gave up her career in the healthcare industry to pursue her passion for ephemera full time. Sheryl found the ephemera world was the perfect place for her penchant for careful and exacting research, organization and knowledge of the internet. Sheryl became a member of the ABAA in 2008 and currently serves on the Board of Governors. She chairs the Public Relations committee and sits on several other committees. Eclectibles operates out of Tolland, CT, and specializes in Paper Americana, Childhood Ephemera and Art, Juvenile Books, Made by Hand, Ephemera, Appraisal and Collection services, Travel and Tourism, History of Advertising, Popular Culture, Visual Culture, and Tokens of Love. ABAA Member since 2008. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 18, 2012 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Lawrence I. Fox has been the ABAA's legal counsel since 1979. A lifelong bibliophile, Larry is also an avid book collector. In this interview he discusses some of the major milestones in the Association's history. ABAA legal counsel since 1979. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Laurence McGilvery opened a bookshop in 1960 and five years later began dealing in antiquarian material. Laurence McGilvery operates out of La Jolla, CA and specializes in Art, Art Ephemera, Art Periodicals, Contemporary Art, Modern Art, and Photography. ABAA Member since 1971. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.
Before entering the antiquarian book trade John D. Spencer spent time in India as a member of the Peace Corps. After returning to the states and deciding to enter the trade, John initially specialized in maps and atlases. In 1976 he founded Riverow Bookshop and shifted his focus to books. Riverow Bookshop operates out of Owego, NY and specializes in Architecture, Americana, New York State, Trade Catalogues, Mushrooms, and General Stock. ABAA Member since 1980. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.
Scott F. De Wolfe’s interest in the book business came through his experiences earning his Masters in New England Studies, working as a research assistant at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community, and as a curator at the Fairbanks House. De Wolf and Wood operates out of Alfred, ME, and specializes in Americana, Ephemera, Manuscripts, Postcards, and Shakers. ABAA Member since 1995. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.
John R. Curtis, Jr. first learned of the value of books in college when he was forced to hunt for research material in local bookshops. In 1971, after a brief career in politics, John decided enter the trade and founded The Bookpress, Ltd. The Bookpress, Ltd. operates out of Williamsburg, VA and specializes in Applied Arts, Architecture, Book Arts, Furniture, Gardening, Ornamentation, and General Antiquarian material. ABAA Member since 1976. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
John R. Durham began his book career as manager of The Socialist Bookstore in San Francisco. It was there that he gained the knowledge and experience with the subject areas of labor, radicalism, women’s studies, and economics, which continue to inform his current and expanding work. John founded Bolerium Books in 1981. Bolerium Books operates out of in San Francisco, CA and specializes in American Social Movements, African American Studies, American Labor and Radical History, Anarchism, Asian American Studies, Chicano Literature, Gay and Lesbian Literature, Spanish Civil War, and Trotskyism. ABAA Member since 1985. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.
Irving Zucker joined “the greatest profession in the world” as a teenager sweeping floors in a bookshop. However, through his those intuition, knowledge, and uncanny energy, Irving quickly transitioned from sweeping floors to selling collections of clip art and type specimens to artists and the advertising trade. By the 1950s Irving had formed his own firm and expanded from the applied arts into modern art masters and became known for his unique collections of Modern Illustrated Books. Sadly, Irving Zucker passed away in May 2009, just five weeks short of his 90th birthday. Today, Irving Zucker Art Books is owned and managed by Irving’s grandson, Matthew Zucker, a member of the ABAA. Irving Zucker Art Books operates out of New York City and specializes in Illustrated Books, French Modern Illustrated Books, Natural History, Art (Applied and Decorative), Art Deco and Nouveau, Architecture, and Livres d’Artistes. ABAA Member from 1968 until his death in 2009. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg.
John Waite’s foray into the antiquarian book trade began in the early 1990’s while working for Glenn Horowitz Bookseller. It was there that John was first introduced to, and seduced by, the intricacies of what makes a fine book valuable. John has served on the Board of Governors and a number of committees. John Waite Rare Books operates out of Ascutney, VT and specializes in Appraisals, Autographs, Documents, Manuscripts and Ephemera. John has a particular interest in the appraisal and placement of archives, large and small. ABAA Member since 1999. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Lawrence Van De Carr has been in the business of collecting and selling antiquarian books since the late 1970’s. As the proprietor of Bookleggers Used Books, Lawrence was an energetic participant in numerous book fairs throughout the Midwest before he became a member of the ABAA in 2007. Bookleggers Used Books operates out of Chicago, IL and specializes in American History, Fiction, Illustrated Books, Mysteries, and Science Fiction. ABAA Member since 2007. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 14, 2012 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.