Bookseller Interviews

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.

David has been a member of the ABAA since 2018 and specializes in Exploration, Adventure, History, California, Pacific Northwest and Alaska. David Spilman Fine Books is located in Sebastopol, California. ABAA Member since 2018. Interviewed by Kara McLaughlin of Little Sages on February 9, 2020 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

Sunday and Josh came to New York after school to pursue careers. The chance purchase of a book on the street for one dollar started them down the path to antiquarian bookdealers. They began selling on eBay as simply a side hustle, but as their passion grew for the material and the subject matter they left their other careers behind and in 2008 went full time. Sunday represents the new generation of Antiquarian bookseller young and excited by the antiquarian world, fully social media and internet capable and enthusiastic about the ABAA and what it provides to the community.

B & B Rare Books Rare Books operates out of an open shop in New York City and specializes in 19th & 20th Century American and English Literature, Modern First Editions, and Signed and Presentation Copies. ABAA Member since 2009. Interviewed by Kara McLaughlin of Little Sages on November 17, 2018 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Peter L. Stern of Boston, MA has been a bookseller since 1973. He has served as on the Board of Governors, acting as Secretary and Book Fair Committee Chair. Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc. specializes in English & American Literature, Detective Fiction, Autographs, Manuscripts, 20th Century, and Signed and Inscribed Books. ABAA Member from 1977-2020. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Before becoming a bookseller, William R. Stewart served in the U.S. Navy and then taught high school English for a number of years. Bill decided to open a bookstore with his wife in 1995, and Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers was born.

Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers, LLC is based out of Birmingham, AL and specializes in Artists' Books, Book Arts, and Press Books (Fine & Private). ABAA Member from 1999 until his death in 2019. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.

Claudia Strauss-Schulson developed a love and appreciation for autographs while obtaining her undergraduate degree in History from George Washington University. Her late husband David Schulson founded David Schulson Autographs in 1974 and Claudia was deeply involved with the business since its inception, even while teaching history and education at the university level. Claudia’s husband David became a member of the ABAA in 1992, and she became an Associate member shortly thereafter. Schulson Autographs operates out of Milburn, NJ and specializes in Autographs: Literature, Arts, Science, History, World Leaders, Music and Dance, Classic Film, Theater, Judaica. ABAA Member since 2010. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on April 5, 2014 at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Since purchasing Second Story Books in 1973, Allan Stypeck, Jr. has expanded his business from a 5,000 book store in Washington, DC to one of the largest used and rare bookshops in the world.  Second Story Books now operates out of two locations in the DC metro area.  An ABAA member since 1978, Allan is also a senior member of the American Society of Appraisers.  Second Story Books specializes in Rare, Out-of-Print Books, Graphics, Appraisals, and Search Service.

ABAA Member Since 1978. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International 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.

David M. Szewczyk of The Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Company has an extensive career of scholarly research and involvement in the rare book trade. While working on his Master's degree in Spanish and history, David volunteered as a cataloguer at the Lilly Library. After obtaining his MA, he continued his studies with advanced work in history and spent a year in Mexico conducting dissertation research as a Fulbright scholar. David became the Rosenbach Foundation's chief manuscripts cataloguer in 1973 and continued in that position for six years before leaving to run the Rare Books and Autographs department for a Philadelphia bookseller. He started PRB&M in 1984 and became a member of the ABAA the following year.

The Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Company specializes in Early Books of Europe and the Americas, U.S. and Latin Americana, Manuscripts, Mexico & New World Languages, Travels, Cookery, Law, and Religion. ABAA Member since 1985. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Gregory Talbot worked for The Lawyer's Co-Operative Publishing Co. for ten years before starting his antiquarian book business, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.

The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. operates out of Clark, NJ and, as the name suggests, specializes in Law & Legal History, International Law, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Trials, American Constitutional Law & History, Early Reports & Codes, Criminology, and Early Printed Law Books. ABAA Member since 1991. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.

Michael R. Thompson spent his entire career in the antiquarian book business, first working for Zeitlin and Ver Brugge in 1966, then establishing his own business in 1972. Michael served on the Board of Governors for many years and was also Chair of the Southern California Chapter.

Michael R. Thompson Booksellers specializes in Literature, Science, Philosophy, History of Ideas, Fine Printing, and Early English Bibles. ABAA Member from 1993 to 2018. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

John C. Thomson served as President of the ABAA from 2012-2014. Prior to his term as President, John served as Vice-President and as a member of the Board for many years. He also chaired the Internet and the Planning Committees. John owns and operates Bartleby's Books out of Chevy Chase, MD.  

Bartleby's Books specializes in African Americana, Americana, Economics, Law, Literature, History, Southern Americana, and General Antiquarian. ABAA Member since 1996. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

John D. Townsend started selling antiquarian books part-time in 1992 as Town’s End Books. It wasn’t until a few years later in 1996 that he entirely gave up the corporate life and joined the book trade full-time.

Town’s End Books operates out of Deep River, CT, and specializes in Americana, High Points of Literature, Lakeside Classics, Nature & Natural History, Nautical Fiction, Nautical History, Rivers of America Series, and WPA Guide Series. ABAA Member since 2002. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 9, 2013 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Mike Tuck entered the trade while working part-time at a bookstore. He quickly fell in love with the business and made it his career. Mike established Bungalow Books in 2000.

Bungalow Books operates out of Pueblo, CO, and specializes in Crime Fiction, Modern Literature, Prison Literature, and Signed Books. ABAA Member since 2012. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 8, 2014 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

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.

Robert and Lynne Veatch founded The Veatchs Arts of the Book in 1975. The Veatchs Arts of the Book specializes in the Distinguished Typography of all Periods, Bindings, History & Technique of Printing, and Illustrated and Artists' Books. ABAA Member since 1994. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Eugene Vigil was a botanist and began his book business, Antiquariat Botanicum, as a second career in 1987. He was constantly collecting and selling books, even while teaching, working for the Department of Agriculture, and later the National Institute of Health.

Antiquariat Botanicum operates out of Lynden, WA, and specializes in Botany, Gardening, Herbals, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural History, Science, Travel and Exploration. ABAA Member from 1999, Emeritus since 2022. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.

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.