Rare Book Monthly
Articles - December - 2002 Issue
Conversing with Mr. Americana: Talking Books With Bill Reese
feature article
AT: And now, a question that perhaps should have come first: What is a day in the life of Bill Reese like? Please describe for our readers – many of whom have never seen or participated in the workings of a rare book shop – what your working day is like.
BR: [Sighing audibly.] It’s so varied. I’m probably out of the office on the road somewhere (often to New York to participate in auctions and see customers) one to two days per week. There is a fair amount of travel. Much of it is up and down the Eastern Seaboard. My day is varied depending on what needs to get done. If I just bought a collection it’s pricing, cataloguing, working with the material.
I also spend a fair amount of time managing my business (and the people working for me). One of the appealing things about this business though I must say is its variety. There is no set routine.
AT: A necessary follow up question: do you (still) enjoy your work? Do you see yourself staying in this business for the rest of your life? Why or why not?
BR: Absolutely. I look forward to coming to work every day because I learn something new every day. I think one of the greatest things regarding the rare book business is that it’s one you can carry on for life. I’m still a young man. I was nineteen when I started and I’m forty-seven now. I hope to do business for many years to come.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most re: the rare book business is that I’ve gotten to know people of many different generations. I’ve had contact with the trade going back to the better part of the century. I’m now finding at my age that I’m greatly enjoying working with people younger than myself and being a mentor to them. I aspire to be like Charlie Traylen who started at fifteen and died at ninety-six.
Thank you very much for being so generous with your time. It was a pleasure talking with you. I’m sure that AE Monthly’s readers will find our chat quite illuminating.
Interested parties may reach William Reese Company at 409 Temple Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, (203) 789-8081. Reese’s website is www.reeseco.com and he may be contacted by email at coreese@reeseco.com. All images used to accompany this article are used courtesy of William Reese Company.
