Our Bright Young Booksellers series continues today with Emil Allakhverdov, proprietor of Rare Paper in New York City:

How did you get started in rare books and ephemera?

I became familiar with rare books and ephemera ten years ago when I was living in Odessa, Ukraine.  Having a degree in economics, I could never imagine that I would be so drawn into the world of collecting. My first mentor was my father-in-law. It was his passion for collecting which was so contagious that led me to enter into a field absolutely new to me. Very soon I became so involved and interested in this process that I collected my own first collection - postcards of my birthplace, the city of Baku, Azerbaijan. I was really in love with my new hobby and felt encouraged to learn about the deltiology field in depth, and this cultivated my desire to become a collector. However, unlike many collectors of that time, who preferred to find their "treasures" at various shows, I was working only on the Internet.  I was surprised to see how easy and convenient it could be to contact dealers and collectors from all over the world in just a few clicks. Soon I switched to another subject, the history of Odessa, the town in which I lived. Just buying did not work; sometimes it was necessary to have something to offer to other collectors, something that I could surprise them with - that's how I started selling. Over time I realized that I wanted to do it for a living, meeting new collectors and dealers, researching and studying the subject.

When did you open Rare Paper and what do you specialize in?

My online store opened at the beginning of 2016. I specialize in scarce and unique Russian books and ephemera I have not seen before, that I want to share with others.

What do you love about the book and paper trade?

Most important for me are the people I meet... and the unexpected element of surprise that arises out their breadth of knowledge, experience and interest. I love to meet people, and listening to their stories always increases my knowledge. Also, there is the possibility to travel around the world in search of another treasure.

Describe a typical day for you:

I do not have a daily schedule. No two days are alike. However, my day usually begins with mail and phone calls, which will determine my schedule. It may be meetings with my clients, business trips, attending shows, shipping orders and preparing products for upcoming auctions.

Favorite rare book (or ephemera, or rare paper, etc.) that you've handled?

I have seen and held many rarities, but it is more interesting to talk about what I have in stock at the moment. Special among my current rare items is an 1850's Daguerreotype of the Emperor of Russia, Nicholas I. I was able to locate another like it only in the Hermitage collection. Another unique paper is an original hand painted postcard of the famous Russian avant-garde artist, Jean Pougny (Ivan Puni).

What do you personally collect?

For over 10 years I have been collecting objects related to the history of the city of Odessa (Ukraine): Postcards, photographs, books, documents and ephemera. In the US, I've started a new subject, émigré books and ephemera, both Russian and Ukrainian. Recently I've become the owner of an extensive collection of Ukrainian children's books. More than 1,000 émigré books were published in Europe and in the US from 1918 to 1970. Now I am searching for new books to add to my collection.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I volunteer in the Thomas J. Watson Library (at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), assisting in the Slavic and Special Collections Department. I like to visit new museum exhibitions and other cultural events in New York City with my wife. We also love to travel in upstate New York, especially along the Hudson River.

Thoughts on the present state and/or future of the rare book and paper trade?

Today we can see how the concept of collecting is changing. We live during a time in which more and more people prefer to participate in online auctions and make purchases from home. Young people show no interest in old books at all. I don't think the concept of collecting itself is dying; I think people will just be collecting other things. People will always enjoy owning things of value and rare beauty, and those who can afford to will collect them. I believe the main goal of dealers and collectors today, besides buying and selling of course, would be to encourage interest among younger individuals in identifying a new generation of objects worth collecting.  Aside from this it is important to pass along the shared knowledge obtained from previous generations of collectors who did their work without the Internet.

Any upcoming fairs or catalogues?

March 10, New York City Book and Ephemera Fair

March 17-18, New York City Spring 2017 Postcard Expo

March 31, Photo NYC Fair 2017

September 8, Brooklyn Antiquarian Book Fair with the New Works on Paper Gallery 

TEFAF Maastricht is widely regarded as the world's preeminent art fair. Though TEFAF recently expanded into New York City, this anchor fair is held in the Netherlands from March 10-19 and is going into its thirtieth year. TEFAF draws rare book, map, and manuscript dealers and collectors as well, as we found during our visit in 2013, but the offerings bask in the highest echelon of such material. They are captivating to look at and destined for museums or major private collections. Here are four highlights:

Shapero Rare Books has exhibited at TEFAF for nearly 25 years. One of its show-stoppers this year is Maria Sibylla Merian's groundbreaking work of entomology, Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium (1726-1730). Courtesy of Shapero Rare Books.   

Daniel Crouch Rare Books plans to display historic maps exploring how the boundaries of and within Europe, "changed over the centuries through conquest, decline, and simply better mapping." Pictured here: Nova et Accurata Totius Europae Tabula, Frederick de Wit, Amsterdam, 1700. Courtesy of Daniel Crouch Rare Books.

Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books will offer several notable manuscripts, including the one shown above: Life of St. Radegund, a manuscript in French and Latin, illuminated by the Master of St. Radegund and made for King Charles VIII and his wife Anne de Bretagne. The manuscript was made in France, presumably between 1496-98. Courtesy of Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books.

Les Enluminures will exhibit this "flawless" fifteenth-century Book of Hours with 69 miniatures known as the Hours of Isabeau de Croix. Dr. Sandra Hindman, CEO and President of Les Enluminures, says, "This is by far one of the best Books of Hours I have ever handled as a dealer." Courtesy of Les Enluminures.