Bookseller Interviews

Kiley Samz has been working the antiquarian book trade for some time, finding many ABAA members to be supportive, nurturing, and mentoring. She currently works for ABAA member Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts in Sherman Oaks, California at their Durham, NC outpost. ABAA Member since 2022. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 16, 2019 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Carol Sandberg grew up with a love of books. She focused her studies on English and obtained a Library Science degree in Rare Books. Carol worked at Heritage Book Shop before joining Michael R. Thompson Booksellers in 1985 as a partner. Carol became a member of the ABAA in 1993.

Michael R. Thompson Booksellers operates out of Los Angeles, CA, and specializes in Fine Printing, especially California Fine Printing, History of Ideas, History of Mathematics & Computers, History of Science, Literature, and Western Philosophy.

ABAA Member since 1993. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 8, 2014 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

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.

John Sanderson developed his own reference library and learned scholarly discipline while in graduate school in England studying Elizabethan Drama. After returning to the states and looking for employments as a teacher, John began selling books on the side. He entered the trade full-time in 1976.

John R. Sanderson Antiquarian Books operates out of Stockbridge, MA, and specializes in Early Printing, Literature, Sports & Games (esp. Golf), General Antiquarian, Morocco, and Travel. ABAA Member since 1987. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Following his retirement as Army officer in 1994, Kurt Sanftleben was selected to be the Director of the Marine Corps Research Center at Quantico, Virginia, which included the Library of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections as subordinate components.  After he retired from that position in 2012, he began to focus more attention on his part-time bookselling business, Read’Em Again Books. Although Kurt and his wife, Gail, have a small general stock of non-fiction books, their inventory consists primarily of ephemera and unique 'personal narrative' items such as diaries, photograph albums, correspondence collections, scrapbooks, and similar materials. ABAA Member since 2014. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 14, 2016 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

Adam has been a member of the ABAA since 2017 and specializes in mostly unique items in the areas of American Social Movements and American Personal Narratives; as well as an emphasis on compelling photo albums and outsider books. Langdon Manor Books is located in Missouri City, Texas.

ABAA Member Since 2017. Interviewed by Kara McLaughlin of Little Sages on February 8, 2020 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

Justin G. Schiller founded his firm in New York, NY in 1960. Justin G. Schiller Ltd. specializes in Early and Rare Children's Books, Related Manuscripts and Artwork, Maurice Sendak, Chinese Propaganda and the Cultural Revolution. ABAA Member since 1967. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on April 10, 2010 at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Barry Scott entered the rare book trade as a librarian at Brown University. Barry made the switch to bookselling in 1970, when he established his own firm that specialized in 19th & 20th Century English and American Literature. He became a member of the ABAA in 1974. Barry operates out of Kingston, RI and specializes in Rare and Unusual Books and Manuscripts in many areas from the 17th Century to the present.

ABAA Member Since 1974. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Garrett Scott’s first encounter with rare books occurred when he took a student job at Stanford University’s Special Collections library. He quickly fell in love with the rare book world and became determined to make a career of it. Garrett worked for ABAA member John Crichton’s Brick Row Book Shop for seven years before grew up a collector (non-book). Each new collection opened a new door on the world for him, and his enthusiasm kept him moving through them until he encountered rare books in the special collections of Stanford Library. He learned the trade working at Brick Row, and established his own book business in 1998. Garrett operates out of Ann Arbor, MI and specializes in First Editions in 19th & Early 20th Century Eccentric Religious Movements, Popular Entertainments, Literature and Americana, Books & Pamphlets Bought and Sold. ABAA Member since 2004. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on April 5, 2014 at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Charles Seluzicki has spent his professional life in the book trade, and started his own antiquarian firm in Portland, OR in 1979. Charles became a member of the ABAA in 1988. Charles Seluzicki Fine & Rare Books specializes in First Editions, Fine Press, History of Ideas, and Literary Archives.

ABAA Member from 1988-2020. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 12, 2008 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.

Marc Selvaggio came to appreciate books at a young age as his father worked in the printing trade, exposing young Marc to typography and paper. Marc went on to a career in business writing, but he always held the idea of opening a bookstore in the back of his mind. In 1985 he and his wife Donnis purchased Schoyer’s Books and left their less enjoyable careers behind for a life in the antiquarian book trade.

Marc Selvaggio, Bookseller operates out of Berkeley, CA, and specializes in California, Western Americana, Travel, History, Federal Writers' Project, Archival, Photographica, and the Unusual. ABAA Member since 1992. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 9, 2013 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Robert S. Seymour of Colebrook Book Barn in Colebrook, CT started in the book business working for his father in 1956. Robert later founded his own firm. Colebrook Book Barn specializes in First Editions, Americana, and History. ABAA Member since 1980. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

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.

Jerry Showalter has been working in bookstores since 1967 and has specialized in rare books since 1990. Jerry N. Showalter, Bookseller operates out of Ivy, VA specializes in Southeastern, Americana, Virginiana, Early Southern Imprints, 19th Century Manuscript Material, and the Civil War & Confederacy. ABAA Member since 1999. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 9, 2013 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Daniel G. Siegel established M & S Rare Books in 1969.  M & S Rare Books is located in Providence, RI and specializes in 17th-19th Century America: History, Science, Philosophy, Economics, Literature, Judaica, Black History, Manuscripts, Broadsides, and Medicine. ABAA Member since 1973. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Ralph Sipper founded Joseph The Provider/Books in San Francisco in 1970. He began selling rare books under his own name in 1996. Ralph has written a number of essays and book reviews, which can be found on his website. His business papers, correspondence, and professional writings are held at Indiana University's Lilly Library.  

Ralph Sipper/Books is located in Santa Barbara, CA and specializes in First Editions of Modern Literature, Manuscripts, Letters, Association Copies, Mystery & Detective Fiction, Cinema Books, and the Twentieth Century. ABAA Member since 1973. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 9, 2011 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.

Jonathan Smalter has been a full-time bookseller since graduating college with a degree in philosophy. Attending the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar in 2011 was a game changer for Jonathan and his business– within two years, Jonathan was the Vice President of the Independent Online Bookseller Association and soon after became a member of the ABAA.

Yesterday's Muse, Inc. operates out of Webster, NY and specializes in Literature, American & Military History, Castles & Fortifications, Utopian & Dystopian Fiction, and General Antiquarian items. ABAA Member since 2013. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 15, 2014 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Ed Smith began as a collector of first editions and Charles Bukowski, and he began selling on the side to fund his own collection. In 1990 he established his own firm and he became a member of the ABAA in 1995. Ed served on the ABAA's Board of Governors for several years.

Ed Smith Books operates out of Rolling Bay, WA and specializes in Modern Literature, First Editions, Photography, Screenplays, Signed Books, and Appraisals of Books and Photographs. ABAA Member since 1995. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 12, 2013 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.