About Us

Michael Laird is the sole proprietor of Michael Laird Rare Books. He has over thirty years' experience working with rare books and manuscripts. Mr. Laird earned his Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989. He has taught graduate level courses on Rare Books and Special Collections Librarianship at New York University (SCPS), Palmer School of Library and Information Science, and the University of Texas at Austin (School of Information). Michael Laird is a Certified member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and is USPAP Compliant through October 2023. He is the principal appraiser of rare books, manuscripts, archives, and documents for Winston Art Group (New York) and Gurr Johns Inc. (New York), the largest art appraisal companies in the United States. He is an active member in the Grolier Club, and has published a number of scholarly articles and reviews.

Michael Laird has been awarded two major fellowships by the Bibliographical Society of London. His lecture at the Grolier Club entitled "Things He Saved from the Fire: The Curious Case of Nicholas Spierinck, Early Cambridge Bookbinder" is online and can be viewed here

Early Cambridge bookbinding by Nicholas Spierinck