DEERFIELD — Rare books are up for auction in Franklin County: they’re worth more than many cars, and have drawn interest from buyers all the way from Europe, who will fly to the U.S. for a chance to win the bid.
On Tuesday, May 31, New England Book Auctions, on Routes 5 & 10, will auction off two of the most sought after books in North America — “The Birds of America” by John James Audubon, valued at $30,000 to $50,000, and a first edition incomplete 1611 King James Version Bible, worth between $15,000 and $25,000.
“For me to get something as big as the Audubon happens about once every three years,” said Paul Muller-Reed, owner of the business along with his wife, Florence Muller-Reed. He expects buyers from Paris and London.
Also being sold is an original “Now We Are Six,” a Winnie the Pooh book written in 1927 by A.A. Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard; a book which Steve Finer, owner of Rare Books in Greenfield, said is more relevant to the average reader.
“The reason this is interesting is because if you have the money, you can always buy (the other books),” he said. “But this one, there were only 20 of them ever made. And the fact that he has one of the 20 is pretty extraordinary.”
“And Winnie the Pooh is pretty recognizable,” he added.
New England Auction House is one of many book dealers in the region. Muller-Reed said it’s a good place for dealers because many old books were printed in New England.
Inside the auction house, an expansive warehouse lined with shelves weighed down by ancient, massive volumes, stretches back at least 100 feet. Smooth jazz music plays softly and the air is saturated with the scent of old paper. The Bible sits heavily on a table.
“Massachusetts has an incredible history of books,” Muller-Reed said, while thumbing through a book printed by Benjamin Franklin’s brother, James, while Benjamin was a 12-year-old apprentice. He paused, and added: “Printing basically started here.”
Antique book auctions gained footing in Franklin County around the 1950s — when old books were plentiful and galleries held auctions once a month. Today, the book selling tradition continues.
“I love this,” said Ken Schoen, owner of Schoen Books in South Deerfield, “I love being around books, I love reading them, I love touching them, there’s nothing like being a book dealer.”
Schoen’s sentiments are shared by other book dealers — including Finer.
“I like what I do. I’ve always liked what I’ve done. It’s like waking up in the morning and saying my business is my pleasure,” he said. “(Selling books) is like having this constant stream of having new toys to play with.”
The region, Finer added, is one of three key book-selling locations in the United States, which include Manhattan, the San Francisco Bay Area and western Massachusetts.
You can reach Andy Castillo at:
acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo