New England was once on par with New York and Philadelphia in offering printed material at auction.  As evidence, here is a list, drawn from “American Book Auction Catalogues – 1713-1934” by George McKay, of auction houses that have listed Boston as their home.  It’s a long list.

Benjamin Adams, Frances Amory, T. M. Baker, Baker & Alexander, A Bowman, John Boydell, Samuel Bradford, Thaxter & Brodhead, Brown Brothers, Buckley & Bancroft, Alexander Carlile, Benjamin Church, Clark & Hatch, Cooley & Drake, Blake and Cunningham, Moses Deshon, Door & Allen, Edward L. Draper, Elias Dupee, Rowland Dyke, Joshua Eaton, Edwards and Foster,  Benjamin Eliot, William Eustis, William Fallass, Thomas Fleet, Samuel Gerrish, John Gerrish, Daniel Goffe, Harrison Gray, William Greenleaf, Daniel Henchman,  Hinkley & Kneeland, Thomas K. Jones, John Jutau, Henry Knox, Howe, Leonard & Co., Joseph Leonard, Leonard & Cunningham, Leonard & Peirce, Leonard & Co, Leonard & Bird, Joseph Lewis,  Charles F. Libbie, C. F. Libbie, William K. MacKay Co.,  John Mein, Moffatt, Boston, William Nichols and Company, Andrew Oliver, W. C. Otis, Parkman & Hinkley, Peirce & Putnam, Charles H. Peirce & Co., Benjamin Perkins, Plympton & Marett, Proctor & Lowell, Edward Proctor, Joseph Russell, Russell & Clap, Robert G. Shaw, R. G. Shaw & Co., Frink Stratton, Ambrose Vincent, Whitwell & Bond,  Whitwell, Bond & Co., Whitwell & Seaver, Savage & Winter, William Winter, and Yancey, Cudworth and Com’y.

Today’s list is very short. 

In fact Boston has always been a book town and earned its storied reputation for what has passed through its auction rooms.  In recent years the flow has drifted to New York and elsewhere.  Ms. Gray intends to bend back the course and in so doing restore the sheen to Boston’s book auction history.  In this endeavor we wish her the very best.  The material is there.

The firm has two locations:

Skinner, Inc.
63 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-350-5400
Fax: 617-350-5429

Skinner, Inc.
274 Cedar Hill Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
Phone: 508-970-3000
Fax: 508-970-3100

 

The book department and Ms. Gray may be reached by email at dgray@skinnerinc.com or contacted by phone at 508-970-3000.

Click here for a detailed press release from Skinner announcing Ms. Gray’s appointment:  www.skinnerinc.com/press/2012/devon-gray-appointed-director-fine-books-and-manuscripts-skinner.php