Patricia Ahearn
We are very sorry to report that last week Patricia Ahearn of Quill & Brush (Dickerson, Maryland, US) passed away.
Patricia and Allen Ahearn started collecting in the early 1960s and founded Quill & Brush in the year 1976 specializing in first editions of literature, mystery/detective fiction and collectible books from all fields of interest. With over 45 years of experience in the rare book trade they were also authors of numerous articles and books like: “Collected Books: The Guide to Values” (4th, revised and enlarged edition published in 2011), “Book Collecting 2000” (Putnam: 2000) and over 200 individual Author Price Guides.
In his obituary for Fine Books & Collections Nicholas Basbanes writes:
“The antiquarian book world lost one of its nicest, most beloved figures … with the passing of Patricia Ahearn, the wife of Allen Ahearn, her partner for close to forty years at Quill & Brush booksellers of Dickerson, Maryland, one of the nation's leading dealers of modern first editions and literary collectibles, and now in its second generation of family management and ownership. Together, Pat and Allen were the authors of seven books on book collecting and rare book values, most famously, perhaps, four impeccably researched editions of Collected Books: The Guide to Values, the successor to Van Allen Bradley's groundbreaking series of the 1970s and '80s, Book Collector's Handbook of Values.”
Some years ago Patricia and Allen Ahearn talked with Michael Ginsberg in a video interview about their life and career, the rare book trade and the past and future of collecting. This interview is published here in memoriam of Patricia Ahearn:
We are very sorry to report that last week Patricia Ahearn of Quill & Brush (Dickerson, Maryland, US) passed away.
Patricia and Allen Ahearn started collecting in the early 1960s and founded Quill & Brush in the year 1976 specializing in first editions of literature, mystery/detective fiction and collectible books from all fields of interest. With over 45 years of experience in the rare book trade they were also authors of numerous articles and books like: “Collected Books: The Guide to Values” (4th, revised and enlarged edition published in 2011), “Book Collecting 2000” (Putnam: 2000) and over 200 individual Author Price Guides.
In his obituary for Fine Books & Collections Nicholas Basbanes writes:
“The antiquarian book world lost one of its nicest, most beloved figures … with the passing of Patricia Ahearn, the wife of Allen Ahearn, her partner for close to forty years at Quill & Brush booksellers of Dickerson, Maryland, one of the nation's leading dealers of modern first editions and literary collectibles, and now in its second generation of family management and ownership. Together, Pat and Allen were the authors of seven books on book collecting and rare book values, most famously, perhaps, four impeccably researched editions of Collected Books: The Guide to Values, the successor to Van Allen Bradley's groundbreaking series of the 1970s and '80s, Book Collector's Handbook of Values.”
Some years ago Patricia and Allen Ahearn talked with Michael Ginsberg in a video interview about their life and career, the rare book trade and the past and future of collecting. This interview is published here in memoriam of Patricia Ahearn: