About Us
A world-class destination for discerning collectors
History
When Dan Whitmore accidentally purchased a first edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls it ignited a fascination with and hunger for acquiring rare books, starting him down the long road to the Whitmore Rare Books shop known today. Thanks to his wife’s encouragement and artistic vision, along with the guidance of experienced mentors, Dan leveraged his personal book collection as the founding inventory. He spent the early years nurturing the business by traveling state to state to visit bookshops, connect with colleagues, and exhibit at book fairs. Inventory improved and expanded, and relationships with new clients took root. What started as a small family business expanded into a thriving antiquarian bookshop.
Over time, Whitmore Rare Books moved from the Whitmore family home, into a small office space, and then into an historic store-front; along the way, it drew together an exceptional team of professionals to oversee inventory acquisition, manage branding, produce catalogues, exhibit worldwide at book fairs and serve a diverse clientele. But with all the changes, the core focus of finding exceptional inventory and offering that material with integrity and professionalism has never wavered. The shop in Pasadena is a space where collectors and dealers alike can celebrate the lasting impact of the written word.
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Whitmore Rare Books now collaborates with some of the most influential private collections and institutional libraries around the globe. Our specialists have built reputations as experts within their fields. Transparent in their pricing when buying and selling, they share a commitment to rigorous research, accurate descriptions, and the ethical handling of cultural materials.
With over 20 years of combined experience, our specialists share a range of expertise across genres that includes antiquarian books and modern first editions, unique manuscripts and archives, and signed and autographed material. In addition to acquiring books for inventory, we are available to maintain want lists, source scarce materials, host private shopping or engage in collection development by appointment.
Whitmore Rare Books is a member in good standing of The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), and the Provincial Booksellers’ Fairs Association (PBFA), adhering to their high standards and ethical codes of conduct.
We invite book collectors and book lovers to visit us when in the greater Los Angeles area. We also regularly exhibit at a range of domestic and international book fairs, bringing a selection of quality inventory to many major cities. Occasionally, we can arrange to visit collectors and curators for collaborations in their own libraries.