De Simone Company, Booksellers

De Simone Company, Booksellers is an American antiquarian book business based in Washington, D.C. It specializes in early Italian books and manuscripts, with particular strengths in gastronomy, wine and agriculture, social science, history, antiquarian bibliography, and illustrated books. The owner, Daniel De Simone, has a noted personal interest in books, manuscripts, and ephemera printed in or about the history of Ferrara, Italy. The firm also deals in 19th-century Americana and fine books across all fields and languages. The business was originally established in 1978 and operated for twenty-two years, buying, selling, and evaluating rare books, manuscripts, and prints. It closed when Daniel De Simone accepted the position of Curator of the Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection at the Library of Congress, a role he held for fourteen years. He then moved to the Folger Shakespeare Library as the Eric Weinmann Librarian, managing seven departments including acquisitions, exhibitions, conservation, research services, and the Library's book, manuscript, and art collections. After three years in that position, he retired in 2017 and reopened De Simone Company Booksellers in 2018, marking the firm's second opening after a seventeen-year hiatus. Drawing on experience in both the antiquarian book trade and rare book librarianship, De Simone consults with institutions on the development and evaluation of their library collections. He is the author and editor of books and articles on the history of book illustration and early bibliography. He is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), the Print Council of America, the Grolier Club, and the Association Internationale de Bibliophilie, among other professional bodies. The firm operates as a private, owner-run business and serves collectors, institutions, and libraries, primarily in the United States and internationally through antiquarian book-trade networks.

De Simone Company, Booksellers was originally established in 1978 as a business that bought, sold, and evaluated rare books, manuscripts, and prints. It operated for twenty-two years before closing when its founder, Daniel De Simone, accepted the position of Curator of the Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection at the Library of Congress. He held that curatorship for fourteen years. He then moved to the Folger Shakespeare Library as the Eric Weinmann Librarian, where he managed seven departments, including acquisitions, exhibitions, conservation, research services, and the Library's book, manuscript, and art collections. After three years in that role, he retired in 2017. In 2018, De Simone reopened the business, described on its website as its "second opening as a book company" after a seventeen-year hiatus. The revived firm continues the original focus on rare and fine books while emphasizing early Italian books and manuscripts, especially in gastronomy, wine and agriculture, social science, history, antiquarian bibliography, and illustrated books. The owner's particular interest in books, manuscripts, and ephemera printed in or about the history of Ferrara, Italy, shapes part of the inventory. The business also deals in 19th-century Americana and fine books in all fields and languages. Because of his combined experience in the book trade and rare book librarianship, Daniel De Simone consults with institutions about the development and evaluation of their library collections. He is the author and editor of a number of books and articles on the history of book illustration and early bibliography. He is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), the Print Council of America, the Grolier Club, the Association Internationale de Bibliophilie, and the American Printing History Association, among other organizations. The firm is based in Washington, D.C., and operates as a private, owner-run antiquarian book business.

• 2018

  De Simone Company Booksellers reopens after a seventeen-year hiatus.

• 2017

  Daniel De Simone retires from the Folger Shakespeare Library.

• 1978

  De Simone Company originally established; buys, sells, and evaluates rare books, manuscripts, and prints.

• After twenty-two years, the business closes when Daniel De Simone becomes Curator of the Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection at the Library of Congress.

• Daniel De Simone moves to the Folger Shakespeare Library as the Eric Weinmann Librarian, managing seven departments.

Specialist antiquarian bookseller serving collectors and institutions, with expertise in early Italian books and manuscripts and rare book collection development.

• Early Italian books and manuscripts

  Core specialty, including works in gastronomy, wine and agriculture, social science, history, antiquarian bibliography, and illustrated books.

• Ferrara-related books, manuscripts, and ephemera

  Material printed in or about the history of Ferrara, Italy, reflecting the owner's particular interest.

• 19th-century Americana

  Americana from the 19th century offered alongside fine books in all fields and languages.

• Fine books in all fields and languages

  General rare and fine book inventory beyond the Italian and Americana specialties.

1. 1De Simone Companydesimonecompanybooksellers.com
2. 2About Usdesimonecompanybooksellers.com
3. 3De Simone Company, Booksellerswikidata.org