Modern Rare Book Trade

Course Convenors: Angus O'Neill and Leo Cadogan
Maximum: 15 students
Venue: Senate House

The aim of the course is to explore in a broad way the huge contemporary market in rare and collectable books.  There will be discussion of the basic tenets and intellectual purposes of collecting, the interplay between academic research interests and market forces, the gauging of rarity and the calculation of value, the ‘rules’ of the game, and an overview of the current workings, structure, weaknesses and strengths of the rare book trade in the twenty-first century. Taught entirely by experienced practitioners, the course is intended to provide a thorough grounding and background for librarians, academics, collectors, booksellers and others, who (whether professionally or privately) need to engage with this market and require a more detailed insight into the nuances and subtleties of the field.