William Reese Company to Live on Under New Ownership
- by Bruce E. McKinney
LTR Nick Aretakis, Peter Harrington, James Cummins, and Terry Halladay
The news is official. The William Reese Co, ABAA, ILAB is to live on Under New Ownership. Bill Reese slipped away from this mortal coil four years ago and his firm has now been transferred to the welcoming hands of Peter Harrington and James Cummins who have long partnered with the Reese Company.
In addition to buying the Reese Company, they have also purchased about 40,000 items from the firm's inventory.
Nick Aretakis who has been managing Americana at the Reese Company for the past 4 years has been named as Managing Director of the whole shebang. Terry Halladay, Bill’s long time partner will continue to be the Reese Company’s Literature Manager.
Here is the official news release:
William Reese Company to Live on Under New Ownership
Antiquarian book business has been purchased with significant inventory of around 40,000 items, with day-to-day operations continuing seamlessly under long-term Reese Company stalwart Nick Aretakis.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022: The William Reese Company, the world’s leading antiquarian bookseller of printed and manuscript Americana, is pleased to announce the continuation of the William Reese name and bookselling tradition under the new ownership of a joint venture between New York-based James Cummins Bookseller and Peter Harrington, London. Business will continue at the company’s existing premises in Temple Street, New Haven.
The late William S. Reese (1955-2018), renowned as one of the foremost dealers of antiquarian books of his generation, founded the New Haven, Connecticut-based William Reese Company in 1975, leaving an indelible impact on both the trade and book collectors worldwide. Following his untimely death four years ago, the company has successfully continued under the leadership of his widow Dorothy Hurt, with the Literature department led by long-time Reese Company specialist Terry Halladay and the Americana department by Nick Aretakis. The team will be expanded next month with the addition of two new book specialists in Americana.
The business has been bought along with its significant inventory of around 40,000 items. Day-to-day operations will continue seamlessly under Aretakis, without change to the Reese Company’s highest bookselling standards and customer service. The location, name and contact details of the business will also remain unchanged, and printed catalogues and e-lists will continue to be frequently issued. James Cummins Bookseller and Peter Harrington are proud to be part of the continued legacy of William Reese.
"It was always my goal to have the William Reese Company carry on as a leading antiquarian bookseller and it gives me great pleasure that Peter Harrington, James Cummins and Nick Aretakis will continue the business in Bill’s tradition. The William Reese Company has always been synonymous with Americana at the highest level and I look forward to seeing the business continue to succeed,” says Dorothy Hurt.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
