Further Study
For those wishing to pursue either a career in bookselling, or just to widen their knowledge about certain areas, a number of courses are available
York Antiquarian Book Seminar.
‘York Antiquarian Book Seminar provides an opportunity for leading specialists to share their expertise and experience with booksellers, librarians and collectors in a comprehensive survey of the out-of-print, antiquarian, rare and used book markets. Basic procedures and problems are discussed both formally and informally through a series of lectures, discussions, demonstrations and practical hands-on workshops with emphasis on cataloguing, pricing and bookselling in the electronic age. The seminar is designed for people of all levels of expertise, from beginners to those with years of experience who want to hone their skills in this rapidly changing field’. A number of scholarships are available, a number aimed towards promoting diversity across all fields of the rare book trade.
A variety of excellent summer courses are run annually at the Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, UCL. UCL also offer an MA/Res in the History of the Book.
Having taken a couple of courses my self, on the History of Book Illustration, and on Illustrative techniques, I can highly recommend them.
Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar (CABS)
Established in 1978, the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminar, now known as the Antiquarian Book Seminar, offers nearly a dozen scholarships annually. Nearly 3000 students have graduated from the seminar since its inception, many of whom have gone on to become prominent members of the bookselling community.
Virginia Rare Book School
Founded in 1983, it moved to its present home at the University of Virginia in 1992. At various times during the year, RBS offers about 40 five-day, non-credit courses on topics concerning old and rare books, manuscripts, and special collections. The majority of courses take place in Charlottesville, but courses are also offered in New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Bloomington, New Haven, and Washington, DC.
The educational and professional prerequisites for RBS courses vary. Some courses are broadly directed toward antiquarian booksellers, book collectors, bookbinders, conservators, teachers, and professional and avocational students of the history of books and printing. Others are primarily intended for archivists and for research and rare book librarians and curators. Again, scholarships are available.
UK Institutional Book Collecting Prizes:
Aberdeen: The Thomas Reid Collecting Prize
Cambridge: Rose Book Collecting Prize
Edinburgh: David Laing Book Collecting Prize
Glasgow: David Murray Prize
Oxford: Colin Franklin Book Collecting Prize
London: Anthony Davis Book Collecting Prize
St Andrews: James David Forbes Book Collecting Prize