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ILAB Congress Scholarship - Part 2 of 4 - Laura Massey (UK)

31 January 2018
Laura Massey, owner of Alembic Rare Books and one of the more recent additions to the Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA) has received a scholarship to attend the 2018 ILAB Congress.
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Laura Massey is based in North London, specializing in books and manuscripts in the sciences from the late medieval period to the present, with a particular interest in alchemy, early history of science, nuclear physics and the Manhattan project, natural history, computing and anatomy.

In an interview with Fine Books & Collections she noted: “…I’m also fascinated by popular science, especially from the Victorian era when scientific pursuits became recreations for the middle classes. Often you find that these books inspired children who grew up to become renowned scientists. They also gave women an entry into scientific fields that were closed to them at the professional level, and a number of women became best-selling popular science authors. These types of books are great gifts or starting points for new collectors.”

Even though being based in London, Laura is a US citizen who did her undergraduate degree in the history of science at Georgia Tech and later spent several years working in the school’s archives & special collections department. In 2008, Laura moved to London and completed a master’s degree in book history at the Institute of English Studies of the University of London. She then joined the London firm Peter Harrington, where she worked for four years as general cataloguer and blogger.

“I’m looking forward to meeting and spending time with colleagues, particular my fellow bursary recipients, and having private tours of so many important organizations that I normally wouldn't have the opportunity to visit.”

Laura can be reached via email or please visit her website: https://alembicrarebooks.com/

Alembic Rare Books is member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA) in the UK and affiliated to the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB)

Our sincere thanks go to the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America's Elisabeth Woodburn Fund who offered four young antiquarians the opportunity to participate in the 43rd ILAB Congress in February 2018 in Los Angeles, Pasadena.