Why Collect Rare Books and Documents?
Above all else, collect them because you like them
There is something special and undeniably human about collecting and keeping items that remind us of days gone by. The desire to gather little bits of treasure could stem from a fond childhood memory or from simply wanting something from generations ago. Many collectors go deeper, longing for items that made a difference in a specific life or time in history, similar to our American history focus here at Yeoman's.
Collectors and purveyors often cite scarcity as the driving force behind the madness that infects the soul enough to spend hard earned money on rare books, documents, maps, letters, and trinkets. However, the most important observation of our collective experience is that scarcity is important when it comes to price, but not so important when it comes to collecting. Collect what you like and you will never go wrong.
You may have heard that before, but after years and years in this business, it is still the most important rule we have ever learned. In fact, it's why we at Yeoman's have chosen to focus on early American history. While we carry a wide array of rare books and ephemera, the pieces relating to early America and the founders of our country shine through. We believe we are making sound business choices when it comes to buying most of the pieces we carry, but it is fair to say that some of the books we stock are chosen simply because we love them and want to share them with our clients and friends. After all, we're rare book dealers second, collectors first.
