Rare Book Chat

Gregory Corso's Funny Forgeries

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Ah, the hi-jinks of Gregory Corso! This New York Tale has everything: stealing from friends, mob bosses, broken record collections, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs (sort of), and what must have been the great charm of the Beat poet Gregory Corso. All of this leads to some (semi-) profound questions on authenticity in the book world.

If you have a Corso tale, we'd love to hear it! Drop us a note at: hello@rarebookchat.com

Enjoy the show!

The Condition Episode!

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0400

Condition is one of the most confusing topics in the rare book world and we're here to help you solve.... nothing, actually. But we do explore the thorny issues involved in evaluating condition and hopefully offer a framework that may be a useful guide as you contemplate the next addition to your library.

We'd love to know your thoughts! How do you evaluate condition? Please reach out to us on Instagram or email us at hello@rarebookchat.com

Enjoy the show!

The Quest for Truth, A Cure for Poison, and 5 Very Well-Wrapped Eggs

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0500

All hail the questers! In this episode we celebrate those humble individuals who had the curiosity and courage to write to famous people with intriguing questions... often leading to intriguing answers. We also explore a curious photobook on innovative packaging, and admire a man who bought his freedom with a cure for poison.

Questions or comments? As usual, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at: hello@rarebookchat.com

Enjoy the show!

Justice, the Public Good, and the Love Song of Winston S. Churchill

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0500

George Washington sticking to his morals and Winston Churchill in love! Jeremy and Michael discuss two important letters currently on the market and use them as a springboard to explore some urgent issues in the world of rare books. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments. You can email us at: hello@rarebookchat.com

And, most importantly, enjoy the show!

Dear Diary

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 04:00:00 -0500

"My Diary - Please respect it": So wrote the photographer Margaret Bourke-White at the beginning of her hand-written diary. And respect it we do! We cover a lot of ground in this episode exploring diaries, notes, and documents written without an eye to a future audience. Through the diary of a Revolutionary War soldier to the journals of an Apple Executive, we explore the strange accidental nature of these witnesses to history. And of course we have to discuss the diaries of Samuel Pepys - but more for their strong influence on Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and modernism.

Special guest: Rick Stattler, of Swann Galleries.

As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments at: hello@rarebookchat.com

Enjoy the show!

Shakespeare!

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:20:00 -0400

Join us as we talk with special guest Adam Douglas of Peter Harrington Rare Books about collecting Shakespeare and specifically about that Holy Grail of collecting, the 1623 Shakespeare First Folio. It is a rare event when one becomes available and Peter Harrington is currently offering a copy. We pick Adam's brain about the specifics of their copy, the history of the creation of the Folio, why Shakespeare and his fellow actors didn't want to publish their texts, why copies are so rare, why each copy is different, and so much more...

Enjoy the episode! And, as always, please don't hesitate to send questions or comments our way at: hello@rarebookchat.com

The Almost Not Great Gatsby

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0400

In 1940, the year of Fitzgerald’s death, there were only 7 copies of The Great Gatsby sold. Fitzgerald complained to both Zelda and Max Perkins that he was a forgotten man and that clearly there was no demand for his book. He was crushed, and died thinking Gatsby was a failure. Then, a year later 155,000 copies were printed…. What happened?

We dive in into the strange afterlife of The Great Gatsby, trace Fitzgerald’s feelings about his masterpiece through inscribed copies, and compare it to the fates of other books – Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Fortnight in September – published around the same time.

Is a classic destined to be a classic or does it need a healthy dose of luck? As always, email us and let us know what you think at hello@rarebookchat.com

Enjoy the episode!

Curious George Orwell and the Tony Soprano Collection

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 14:53:13 -0400

When is a George Orwell signature not a George Orwell signature? Is it safe to be around a person who collects true crime artifacts? Also - there was a world record set last week and it involved the Book of Mormon... Join Jeremy and Michael as they debate the big questions in the rare book world. As always, we welcome your questions or comments at: "hello@rarebookchat.com".

Enjoy the show!

Maniacs Are Real

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:33:56 -0400

This episode is all about maniacs! Bibliomaniacs, that is.... They may be extreme, they may be passionate, and, ignoring some unsavory criminal activity, they may even have served to preserve culture over the years.

If you have a story about a bibliomaniac - or perhaps you are a bibliomaniac! - please drop us a note at hello@rarebookchat.com

Enjoy!

Dining with Dali, Computer Liberation, and Bidding Against Yourself (an AI story)

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:45:53 -0400

Special guest! Hélène Golay of Capitol Hill Books joins Jeremy and Michael to discuss post-war diplomacy through fine dining, Jeremy's hungry cat leads to an impulsive purchase of an early manifesto on the personal computer, and Michael and Jeremy realize they are often competing with themselves for the price of a book. Enjoy the show! Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments at: hello@rarebookchat.com.

A Magic Bible, and Smith with a "P"

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Thu, 22 May 2025 17:35:05 -0400

Whose Bible would be more fun at a dinner party, Mick Jagger's or Harry Houdini's? And what about that curious Wodehouse manuscript coming up for auction? So much to think about, including Michael's feeling that there is an alarming lack of respect for comic literature in the rare book market.

Thank you for listening! Do you have any ideas for us? Email us at hello@rarebookchat.com. We'd love to hear about your rare book adventures, ideas for new episodes, observations, questions... whatever it is, we want to hear from you!

A Prank Inscription, Bloody Relics, and Harry Potter Unbound

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:01:40 -0400

All about a book that was not inscribed by Calvin Coolidge to Ernest Hemingway, the gloves Lincoln wore the fateful night of the assassination, and a marvelous Harry Potter curiosity... Enjoy!

Lillian Ross & Her Very Ernest Hemingway

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:17:59 -0400

Special guest Sarah Funke Butler (funkeliterary.com) joins Jeremy and Michael to discuss a fascinating and newly unearthed trove of letters from Ernest Hemingway to the groundbreaking journalist Lillian Ross. You think you knew everything about Hemingway? Well, think again - this collection of letters has forced us to reconsider our understanding of "Papa".

We'd love to know what you think? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@rarebookchat.com

Thanks for listening!

Crimes, Dimes, and Scat!

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:08:11 -0500

In this episode we talk about dime novels and the lurid crimes they depict, and the now forgotten authors of those gazillions of highly popular novels, as well as two items of scatological interest, one of which has a very distinguished provenance.

Valentine's Day Episode!

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:37:05 -0500

A quick chat about Valentine's Day gifts from the 19th century -- and the all important question of whether love was even possible in the olden days. Plus, a little more (but not much!)

Einstein's Frubber Face, Plath's Favorite Cook Book, Kafka's Earliest Scribbling, & the Kelmscott Press

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:36:53 -0500

We begin this episode with Michael bemoaning a missed opportunity to buy the head of Albert Einstein, and then we welcome Darren Sutherland, Senior Specialist in the Fine Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams Auctions, to discuss two upcoming sales. The first is a fascinating single-owner complete collection of books from the Kelmscott Press, assembled by a man described as having “the most remarkable taste in the arts”. And the second is just a regular mashup sale with some curious and lovely offerings including Sylvia Plath's beloved cook book, an early note by young Kafka, and more.

Episode 9: Gold Rush Diaries, Delicious Urine, and Old Uncle Abraham

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:10:52 -0500

Welcome back to another episode of Rare Book Chat, where we dive into the delightful world of historical curiosities and the sometimes grim realities behind them. This week, we have a rollicking discussion that swings from the California Gold Rush to 17th-century plague remedies, and more —because, why not?

Gold Rush Diary: We kick things off with a riveting look at a collection of autographed letters from Warren H. Porter, a gold rush miner whose tale takes a dark turn. Spoiler alert: he doesn't quite strike gold! Join us as we marvel at the narrative flair of the auction cataloger while pondering the senselessness of his tragic fate (and the cataloger's choice of words).

Quackery Chronicles: As we transition, brace yourselves for a discussion on quackery inspired by a 17th-century book on plague remedies. We challenge our own skepticism as we explore bizarre treatments, including the potential of wine and self-confidence to ward off the plague. Who knew that a tobacco enema was part of the prescription?

Civil War Diaries: As we dig deeper, we uncover Civil War diaries that paint a vivid picture of life during that tumultuous time. One diary even includes an encounter with none other than President Lincoln! We can’t help but wonder if Lincoln’s undignified moments were more than just charming anecdotes.

Moby Dick Musings: We then shift gears to discuss a rare copy of Moby Dick, debating the merits of acquiring a rebound version versus a pristine original. Join the internal struggle as we play the “what would you do?” game with book collecting.

Kafka's Secret Manuscript: Finally, we tease an exciting upcoming episode featuring a Kafka manuscript that has just hit the auction block. Intrigued? You should be!

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s topics—especially your favorite quack remedies! Drop us a line at hello@rarebookchat.com and follow us on Instagram for more literary fun.

Check out our website for links: rarebookchat.com

Episode 8: The Man Who Did Too Much

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:39:59 -0500

In this episode, Jeremy and Michael discuss William Morris, wallpaper, and the birth of fantasy literature, with an analysis of Morris's influence on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis in particular. Then a game of would you rather - a spectacular copy of Orwell's 1984, or a mini-collection of dystopian novels? Also a half-hearted stab at the big question: why do we collect?

Email us with questions, suggestions, grievances, at hello@rarebookchat.com.

The books discussed can be found in the catalog for the upcoming Hindman/Freemans book sale at:

https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/2065-fine-printed-books-manuscripts-including-americana

And, as always, our website is at:

https://www.rarebookchat.com/

Enjoy the show!

Episode 7: A Tea Party, a Traveling Salesman, and Artificial Ants

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:19:49 -0400

In this episode, we explore a delightful tea party invitation that connects Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, and Michael Faraday. The conversation then transitions to a rare first edition from 1832, which addresses a fundamental challenge in computational theory, one so perplexing that researchers have enlisted artificial ants to help sniff out a solution. For links to the items discussed in this episode, visit rarebookchat.com.

Episode 6: The World Series Episode: A Very Rare Book that Revolutionized Baseball... and more!

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 13:08:18 -0400

In this episode of Rare Book Chat, we're diving into the revolutionary impact of Bill James's work on baseball and far beyond. Known to us (with affection) as the "Pork and Beans Man," Bill James transformed the way we think about baseball analytics, introducing statistical evaluation in sports with his groundbreaking work, "The Baseball Abstract." We discuss a very rare 1978 printing of James’ Baseball Almanac (offered by Type Punch Matrix) and how James, as an outsider, reshaped the understanding of player value and the lasting influence his ideas had on the concept of "Moneyball."

As we celebrate the start of the World Series, we also meander through the fascinating world of rare baseball memorabilia. We discuss everything from a jaw-dropping $24 million Babe Ruth jersey to a valuable questionnaire filled out by Jackie Robinson. Throughout our conversation, we explore the intersection of sports, literature, and how printed documents can help us understand cultural movements.

Episode 5: Constitution Recap... a Bargain at $11M?

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 18:24:34 -0400

In this episode we discuss the sale price of a the extremely rare ratification printing of the US Constitution sold at Brunk Auctions last week. Was $11M high or low? Listen to the episode to find out why it was probably a bargain.

Episode 4: The Most Important Printed Document in American History?

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:50:08 -0400

In this episode of Rare Book Chat, hosts Michael DiRuggiero and Jeremy O'Connor discuss a rare ratification copy of the US Constitution with Seth Kaller, the pre-eminent dealer of rare and important American historical documents. The conversation explores the document's historical significance, the complexities of its journey from creation to ratification, the role of compromise in the Constitution's formation, the importance of Charles Thompson's signature, and the implications of the auction for collectors and historians alike.

Episode 3: Marx, Darwin, Smith, and Mutton

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:12:52 -0400

In this episode of Rare Book Chat, hosts Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero explore the fascinating world of rare books, spotlighting three legendary first editions: Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, Karl Marx’s Das Kapital, and Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. They discuss what makes these books so valuable, why Jeremy thinks Das Kapital is cheap compared to the other two, Michael's regrets about not being a shepherd, and how these three authors shaped history. Along the way, they touch on the emotional side of book collecting and the lasting influence of these groundbreaking thinkers.

Episode 2: Did American Literature begin with a con?

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:56:25 -0400

In this episode we discuss a wonderfully strange 1809 first edition that just might be the founding work of American literature … Jeremy then takes the conversation in a different direction by making a comparison with this book and the much-coveted and exceptionally valuable 1623 Shakespeare first folio, the first collected edition of Shakespeare, and then we look at the current market for this strange 1809 book and find that, compared to other foundational works, it’s surprisingly affordable. As always, please check our website for links to the books we discuss. Enjoy!

Episode 1: Einstein Dancing in the Multiverse

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 18:39:22 -0400

Welcome to Rare Book Chat: In this episode we discuss Eleanor Roosevelt’s This I remember, a letter addressed to Jimmy, Einstein dancing in the multiverse, and the filthiest story ever told... Enjoy!

We have a very basic website up at rarebookchat.com, but please feel free to email us at RBC@manhattanrarebooks.com

Items discussed:

A special copy of Eleanor Roosevelt's This I Remember:
https://historical.ha.com/itm/books/martin-luther-king-jr-lyndon-b-johnson-and-eleanor-roosevelt-signed-copy-of-this-i-remember/a/6305-47200.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

Letter from Gettysburg:
https://bid.fleischersauctions.com/lots/view/1-9JMEZH/gettysburg-vivid-soldiers-letter

Letter from Daniel Lipkin to Albert Einstein:
https://historical.ha.com/itm/autographs/inventors/albert-einstein-heavily-annotated-letter-on-the-subject-of-his-theory-of-generalized-gravitation-together-with-a-typed-letter-signed/a/6305-47174.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515

Marquis de Sade letter:
https://www.edition-originale.com/en/autograph-letters-manuscripts/literary-manuscripts/sade-lettre-du-marquis-de-sade-depuis-1801-85841

Welcome to Rare Book Chat!

Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 15:47:52 -0400

Dive deep into the fascinating world of rare books with Rare Book Chat. Hosted by Michael DiRuggiero and Jeremy O'Connor, the co-founders of The Manhattan Rare Book Company, this twice-weekly podcast explores the unique and often valuable items that fill the world of rare books, manuscripts, letters, photographs, archives, and more.

From historical documents to literary first editions, we'll discuss the stories behind these one-of-a-kind treasures. Join us as we explore the intricacies of the rare book trade and discover the hidden gems that await.