Bookseller Interviews

Oscar D. Graham II of Graham Book Gallery in Houston, TX has been in the business for his entire professional career.  Oscar originally worked with Herman Detering at Detering Book Gallery for many years before buying the shop when Herman retired in 2008.  

The Graham Book Gallery specializes in Fine Bindings, First Editions, Illustrated Books, Press Books and Fine Printing, and Leather Sets. ABAA Member from 1979 until his death in 2018. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.

James grew up in a house full of books. As a child he turned his closet into a little library, reading whatever he could get his hands on, no matter the reading level. After studying anthropology he found work as an archeologist unsatisfying. While he was searching for a career path he could enjoy, he happened to purchase a lexicon which started him down the road of collecting. Quickly gathering more books than he wanted, he turned to selling. In 1991, he became a full time antiquarian bookseller. 

James Gray Bookseller operates out of Princeton, MA and specializes in Early Printed Books and Manuscripts, Incunabula, and Books of Hours. ABAA Member since 2015. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 17, 2018 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.
 

The Argonaut Book Shop in San Francisco, CA was established in 1941 by Robert D. Haines, Sr., and the firm became a founding member of the ABAA. Robert has been the shop's proprietor for the past forty years. The Argonaut Book Shop specializes in California and the American West, Early American Travel, Fine Press Books, and Voyages and Expeditions. ABAA Member since 1978. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.

David Hamilton grew up in the midwest and had an interest in history from an early age. After graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Public Health, David moved to Georgia and worked for the state for thirty years. During this time, he began his foray into the book world and began a side-business as a bookseller. The side business quickly became a full-time venture.

David A. Hamilton Americana Books is located in Stone Mountain, GA and specializes in History, Travel & Exploration, General Stock, and Ephemera. ABAA Member since 2012. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 11, 2017 at the Boston 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.

Douglas N. Harding has been an antiquarian bookseller since 1960. Douglas is located in Wells, ME and specializes in Antarctica and Arctica, Americana, Illustrated Books, Maps, Atlases, and Cartography. ABAA Member from 1975-2019. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Robert Dalton Harris and Dianne de Blois founded aGatherin' in 1973. aGatherin' is located in West Sand Lake, NY and specializes in Manuscripts, Transportation, American Ephemera (especially Letters), and Aviation History. ABAA Member since 1977. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

After earning his BA and MA at Wichita State University, Michael Heaston was hired as the Curator of Special Collections in the University's new rare book and manuscripts library. After spending nearly a decade building and developing the collection, Michael worked as general manager for the Jenkins Rare Book and Publishing Company before starting his own antiquarian book business.

Michael D. Heaston operates out of Witchita, KS and specializes in Western & General Antiquarian, Manuscripts, Maps of American West, Texas, and the Southwest. ABAA Member from 1983-2020. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.

As a Doctor of Philosophy, John Hellebrand had no specific training in the book trade before jumping into the trade feet first in 1976. He spent his first few years book scouting and learning the trade, quickly developing a keen eye for a valuable book. John joined the ABAA in 1979.

Palinurus Antiquarian Books operates out of Jenkintown, PA and specializes in Americana, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Philosophy, Science, and Technology Books and Manuscripts prior to 1850.

Jonathan Hill’s start in the trade was a summer job working for an antiquarian book dealer. He enjoyed the work and  over the next few years Jonathan worked for and learned from a number of different dealers. He established his own business in 1976.
Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. operates out of New York, NY and specializes in Science & Technology, Natural History, Bibliography, Medicine, and Early Printed Books. ABAA Member since 1979. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on April 5, 2014 at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Mark Hime and his wife left LA in the early 1970’s to move to the mountains. Mark discovered that he could buy and sell books by catalog from his secluded mountain village home and, after six years of study and collecting, he founded Biblioctopus in 1980.

Biblioctopus operates out of Century City, CA, and specializes in First Editions of the Classics of Fiction, and High Spots in History, Science, and Philosophy. ABAA Member since 1983. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 8, 2014 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

A native of Columbus, OH, Ed Hoffman studied English Education at Ohio State University. After completing his degree Ed returned to his high school alma mater to teach for seven years before deciding to return to pursue a doctorate degree. It was during this time as a student that Ed began selling books as a way to fund his expenses. In 1982, he entered the trade with full gusto and opened a shop that remained in the same location for 25 years. Ed became a member of the ABAA in 1990. Since that time, he has served as an officer of the Midwest Chapter and is currently serving on the Board of Governors and chairs the By-Laws Committee.

Hoffman Books is located in Columbus, OH and specializes in Photography, Ohiana, Thurber, Travel, Geology, and Americana. ABAA Member since 1990. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 11, 2017 at the Boston 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.

George Houle began selling books in high school as a way to fund his college tuition. It wasn’t until years later after He earned  a degree in Library Sciences and worked for a number of public libraries in California before he began cataloguing for Sotheby’s. George founded Houle Rare Books in 1976.

Houle Rare Books & Autographs operates out of Los Angeles, CA, and specializes in First Editions, Historical Autographs, Literary Autographs, Performing Arts Autographs, Presidential Autographs, Vintage Photographs, Wide Range of Ephemera, and Zane Grey Rarities. ABAA Member since 1978. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 10, 2010 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.

Bruce Howard assists his wife Evi Howard in operating Bookbid Books. Bookbid is based in Beverly Hills, CA and also has offices in Sherman Oaks, CA. It specializes in modern first editions and children’s books.

ABAA Member since 2010. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 14, 2016 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

Peter B. Howard of Serendipity Books in Bekeley, CA was a legend in the rare book business. He founded Serendipity Books in 1963. Peter became as active in the Association as he was in the trade, and served as President of the Northern California Chapter from 1984-1985 and President of the National Association from 1992-1994. He participated in every ABAA fair- California, New York, and Boston- each year and was still selling at the 2011 California Fair a month before he passed away. ABAA Member since 1968. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 13, 2011 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.

John Howell has worked in the trade for years and finally decided to start his own business in 2005.

John Howell for Books operates out of Los Angeles, CA, and specializes in Early Printing and Manuscripts, Fine Press, Los Angeles and California, Miniature Books, Book Art, and Typography. ABAA Member since 2011. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 8, 2014 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

Jerry Jacobs has always been a collector--first coins, then reading copies of books, and finally rare books. After a stint in the restaurant business, Jerry worked for Stephen Acronico Rare Books, getting his first business experience with antiquarian books. When that shop closed in 1983, Jerry decided to go out on his own and founded Lost Horizon Bookstore.

Lost Horizon Bookstore operates out of Santa Barbara, CA, and specializes in Art & Decorative Arts, Antique Reference, Prints & Maps, General Antiquarian, and California History. ABAA Member since 1993. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 8, 2014 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.