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.
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Jeffrey H. Marks began his book business in 1979. Jeff has a law degree and is also a practicing attorney. Jeffrey H. Marks Rare Books operates out of Rochester, NY and specializes in Modern First Editions. ABAA Member since 1985. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.


David Margolis completed his BFA at the Pratt Institute and MFA at the University of Pennsylvania before working as a full time cataloguer for Swann Galleries in the 1970s. In 1979, he partnered with his wife Jean Moss and opened an antiquarian bookshop, Margolis & Moss, in Santa Fe, NM. Jean's background in English literature and interest in theatre complemented David's focus on the visual arts, and the pair opened a general antiquarian store focusing on these areas of expertise. Margolis & Moss continues to operate out of Santa Fe, NM and specializes in Fine Books, Prints, Maps, Ephemera, Nineteenth Century Photography, Mexico and Latin America. ABAA Member since 1985. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on February 16, 2013 at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in San Francisco.


Malcolm Kottler taught Evolutionary Biology and History of Biology at the University of Minnesota for a decade before he began selling antiquarian books full time. Scientia Books operates out of Arlington, MA and specializes in Medicine, Science, History of Medicine, History of Science, Evolution, and Genetics. ABAA Member since 1988. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.


Howard Karno first started selling books in the early 1970s. Sadly, Howard passed away in 2012, but his wife Beverly Joy-Karno, also an ABAA member, continues to run the business. Howard Karno Books, Inc. operates out of Valley Center, CA and specializes in Latin America, Mexico, Caribbean, Afro-Latin Americana, and South America, with an emphasis on: Art, Architecture, Photography, History, Travel & Voyages, Basques, Military, and Music. *Please note: audio for this video does not start until the 1min mark. Apologies for the inconvenience. ABAA Member from 1978 until his passing in 2012. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena.

Peter B. Howard

Peter B. Howard



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.


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.


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.


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.


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.

Roger Gozdecki

Roger Gozdecki



Roger Gozdecki first started selling antiquarian and rare books in 1986. Roger was a frequent contributor to the ABAA Newsletter and worked on the Southern California Book Fair Committee. Sadly, he passed away in 2012. Anthology Rare Books was located in Covina, CA and specialized in California and the West, Literature, Angling, E. E. Cummings, and M.F.K. Fisher. ABAA Member from 1995-2012. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 11, 2009 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.

Marguerite Studer Goldschmidt

Marguerite Studer Goldschmidt



Marguerite Studer Goldschmidt and her late husband Lucien Goldschmidt owned and operated Lucien Goldschmidt Inc., an antiquarian book firm based out of New York. Both born and educated in Europe, the couple brought unique backgrounds and extensive knowledge of antiquarian material to the shop when it was founded in 1958. Prior to working with Lucien in New York, Marguerite apprenticed at the libraries of the Universities of Bristol (UK), Geneva (Switzerland) and Tubingen (Germany); worked as assistant cataloguer at the University of Bristol library; was an associate of the British Library; and then librarian of the Bush House Library at the BBC in London. Lucien is considered to be "one of the most important and influential antiquarian booksellers of the 20th century." Lucien Goldschmidt Inc. was the first U.S. gallery to purchase Matisse's "Jazz". The couple sold to a variety of noteworthy clients, organized important exhibitions, and published major, scholarly catalogues. Their gallery was called"the kind of book-cum-picture shop that Daumier would have liked to draw and in which Baudelaire would have whiled away the hours." The shop closed in 1987. ABAA Member since until 1987. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. Visit the following link for additional information and links to articles about the couple: http://www.ilab.org/eng/booksellers_main_page/ILAB_Booksellers_on_Video/Marguerite_Studer_Goldschmidt.html


Peter Glassman established Books of Wonder in Manhattan in 1980. Books of Wonder specializes in Children's Books, Folklore, Fairy Tales, Illustrated Material, Oz & Baumiana, and Juvenile Fantasy. ABAA Member since 1983. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on April 14, 2012 at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.


Beverly Garcia-Garst of Garcia-Garst Booksellers in Turlock, CA established her business in 1978. Prior to that she worked for the California State University Stanislaus Library and the UCLA Library system while an undergraduate at UCLA and then had a short apprenticeship with Jerrold Stanoff of the Rare Oriental Book Company. Beverly was a founder of the Central California Booksellers Association and the Central Valley Antiquarian Booksellers Association. Garcia-Garst Booksellers specializes in Children's Books, Illustrated Books, Literature, Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology, and California & the West. ABAA Member Since 1986. Interviewed by Taylor Bowie on October 11, 2009 at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair.


Bert Babcock has been a bookseller since 1976 and an ABAA member since 1982. He has served as President of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Booksellers Association. Bert Babcock Bookseller, LLC specializes in Modern First, American & English Literature, Rare & Inscribed Books, Limited Editions, Poetry Broadsides, Press Books, and Literature in Translation. ABAA Member Since 1982. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg on November 13, 2017 at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.


Rodger Friedman of Rodger Friedman Rare Book Studio in Tuxedo, NY has been an antiquarian bookseller since 1993. Rodger specializes in the Classical Tradition, Renaissance, Humanism, and Italian & Continental Books. ABAA Member since 1999. Interviewed by Michael Ginsberg at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.
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