About Us
RENAISSANCE RARE BOOKS
AND BINDERY
"Literary Preservationist" ®
*Trademark granted and registered by the United States Dept. of Patents and Trademarks.
Renaissance Rare Books & Bindery is one of very few Antiquarian and Rare Book organizations that is completely vertically-integrated. We specialize in volumes from the 15th through 20th centuries. We maintain our own binding department in which we create magnificent one-of-a-kind bindings, conservation boxes, patented single and multiple-volume slip cases, chemise and other innovative and artistically-designed presentation cases.
We take great pride in our inventory, as we seek to locate and provide our interns and clients with unique volumes in exceptional condition and, in some cases, unique presentation offerings.
The periodic sale of these items helps support our Not-for-Profit educational programs offered to students who plan on majoring in English or American Literature as well as Library Science. These first edition literary masterpieces allow our interns to study and examine some of the finest examples of antiquarian and rare books in the world. Books that would otherwise not be accessible to them without a post-graduate degree.
PROPRIETORS' EDUCATION
The proprietors of Renaissance Rare Books & Bindery received their educations in English and English Literature from accredited college and universities in the United States, and completed post-graduate education at the University of London, Department of Advanced English Studies, (Rare Books and Manuscripts).
LETTERPRESS & CALLIGRAPHY DEPARTMENTS
Our professionally-trained and certified Letterpress Department Manager and Calligraphy Department experts provide our unique and beautifully-produced presentation materials and artistic items that are suitable for the most discriminating bibliophile. Our interns are given the opportunity to experience hands-on operation of an American 104-year-old 'Chandler & Price' platen letterpress, as well as an English 'Adana' platen letterpress, as part of their internship experience.
BINDERY DEPARTMENT
Our Master Binders, in the United State, Canada and England are internationally-recognized binders who are extraordinarily talented and create masterpieces utilizing original English and French binding techniques, valued by international collectors and rare book dealers.
In addition to the work produced for Renaissance Rare Books & Bindery, our binders have created special project pieces for Asprey Rare Book Department, London, England, Sotheran's Rare Books, London, England and the only known complete reproduction of the King Henry the Vlll Psalter.
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT
Our Conservation Department prides itself on its use of expert, creative, historical, and modern techniques when restoring valuable volumes and materials to their original appearance. These techniques are examined and studied by our interns to provide them with an understanding and appreciation of both present and historical significance of a Master's conservation skill. All such restoration procedures are photographed and documented to record the procedures that were taken in the preservation process.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP
Renaissance Rare Books & Bindery believes that rare literary materials that are not generally made available to high school and college students to support their study toward a degree program or thesis preparation should be made available to students who plan a career in the teaching of American or English Literature, Library Science, or Journalism, as well as those who love and appreciate literary history and culture and seek to preserve it.
Therefore, in addition to offering internships, we conduct literary seminars utilizing our rare and historically-significant inventory, which are typically unavailable to the general public. Both the seminars and internships are supported by donations and, when necessary, the sale of selected inventory items.
We welcome your further inquiry and visit, by appointment only, to our location in Monterey, California, and will be pleased to present selected items from our inventory in both our Monterey, California and Mayfair, London, England locations.
Renaissance Rare Books & Bindery is a not-for-profit organization. All net profits are reinvested in the institution.
MEMBERSHIPS
ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE
ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION
PRIVATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
OXFORD BIBLIOLOGICAL SOCIETY
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF BOOKBINDERS
Fine Bindings: Unique Slipcases, Presentation
and Conservation Boxes; Restoration,
Reproduction, and Custom Design Services
