Qualifications

I have been in the used/antiquarian book business since 1977, and have done numerous appraisals. I have attended the Columbia University school for librarians who curate rare book collections.  I also attended the AB Bookmans Rare Book School at Denver State College.  I have taken courses in appraisal procedure and USPAP - (Uniform  Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) from the Appraisal Institute.   

I was an assistant manager at Powell's Bookstore in downtown Portland, Oregon, and was responsible for the establishing of the new books division and was the first buyer for Powell's.  I was also responsible for establishing the used book department as well as the rare books department.  I also contributed to the creation of the "Price Task Force," which is the division responsible for pricing many of the used books that come into Powell's.  

I was the manager at the Great Northwest Bookstore, also in Portland, Oregon.  I was responsible for purchasing, pricing and selling used books, rare books, unusual and desirable pamphlets, printed sheets (the pamphlets and sheets are often referred to as "ephemera.")  In this position, I also purchased, priced and sold rare maps.  Perhaps the most challenging of all were my many experiences buying, pricing, and selling professional and personal archives.  Personal archives usually contain personal letters, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, and an assortment of printed or handwritten papers.  Professional archives may well include all of the proceeding, but may also contain technical papers, studies, notes, research, and perhaps drawings.   Many of my clients are unaware that their archives, professional or archive, may have monetary value.