Favourite Rare Book Store honors went to one of the oldest and most established booksellers on earth – Maggs Bros. There are certainly many others worthy of this honor too, but who can argue with Maggs? Commenting on the selection, Ed Maggs said, "We're delighted with the news. I know we can be thought to present a somewhat intimidating facade to the world, but once you get through the door we try hard to be friendly and helpful." From the other side of the Atlantic, runners up included the late Heritage Book Shop and Manhattan Rare Books, while English sellers Sam Fogg, Old Cinema Bookshop, Shapero Rare Books, and Brighton Books drew many votes. The award for favourite dealer went to Peter Harrington, while runners up included the 19th Century Shop, Bernard Shapero, Maggs, William Reese, Broadhurst, Rick Gekoski, Nigel Williams, the Map House, Paul Foster, E M Lawson, and all the way from Australia, Hordern House.
Auction House of the Year
The winner here is Sotheby's London, and this probably reflects a British bias, since runners up included Sotheby's Paris and Sotheby's New York. Add to the runners up Christie's New York and South Kensington, Bonham's London and Oxford, Bloomsbury London, Swann's (New York), PBA Galleries (San Francisco), John Nicholson and Dominic Winter. "This means a lot to the Book Department at Sotheby's," Stephen Roe, of Sotheby's is quoted as saying. "We have a great team and they all deserve it."
Best Catalogues of the Year
This was the final category, and the award went to another venerable old bookseller, Bernard Quaritch. There were lots of runners up here - Marlborough, Shapero, Maggs, Peter Harrington, Nigel Williams, Howes, Ken Spelman, Hordern House and William Reese. Also, there was a special mention for the humor of Between The Covers and Lame Ducks. It should be noted that votes may have been motivated by different factors, either quality of the presentation or quality of the works offered.
The Rare Book Review itself is an esteemed institution, having been founded in 1974 as the Antiquarian Book Monthly Review. You may visit their website, and sign up for a subscription if you like, at www.rarebookreview.com.
