Rare Book Monthly

Articles - April - 2025 Issue

Ella Hall Joins William Reese Company Ahead of Company’s Move to New York City

Ella Hall

Ella Hall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Ella Hall Joins William Reese Company Ahead of Company’s Move to New York City and the New York Antiquarian Book Fair

 

Highlights on the Reese Stand at the Fair Include Important Maps from the Dietrich American Foundation New York

 

March 2025 — William Reese Company is pleased to announce Ella Hall has joined the company as Senior Specialist, an appointment that comes at a defining moment in the company’s history. As Reese prepares to relocate from its long-term home in New Haven to New York City this summer, Hall joins one of the most respected Americana departments in the rare book trade, bringing dynamic vision and deep expertise to an already storied legacy.

 

Hall joins William Reese Company following nearly fifteen years of distinguished work with books and manuscripts, most notably during her long tenure at Sotheby’s in New York. After earning her BA in American history and photography from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, she began her career working with David Redden in Sotheby’s Special Projects department before advancing as a specialist within the Books & Manuscripts division.

 

In her new role, Hall will focus on expanding Reese’s reach into areas she has long championed, including women’s history, social and cultural history, literature, photography, and archives, building upon the firm’s established strengths. In addition, she will head the company’s appraisal services, preparing USPAP compliant appraisals.

 

“It’s an exciting moment to join William Reese Company,” Hall said. “My intention is to further develop Reese’s distinguished tradition by broadening our engagement with diverse historical narratives.”

 

In addition to her high-profile auction work, Hall has completed multiple courses at Rare Book School and is pursuing a master’s degree at Hunter College. Hall’s appointment continues Reese’s evolution in recent years under the joint ownership of Peter Harrington and James Cummins Bookseller, building on the company’s respected legacy while bringing renewed momentum and a fresh direction to the team.

 

“Ella’s exceptional industry insight, rigorous scholarship, and proven skill in high-stakes appraisals and sales make her a welcome asset to our team,” says Pom Harrington. “Her deep understanding of Americana and the broader rare book market positions her perfectly to drive Reese’s continued growth at a strategic moment of transition to New York.”

 

Ella Hall will be on the William Reese Company stand at next week’s New York International Antiquarian Book Fair (NYIABF) and looks forward to connecting with collectors, curators, and colleagues throughout the event.

 

Reese’s New York Antiquarian Book Fair Highlights Include:

 

• Important maps from the Dietrich American Foundation collection. Including maps by Samuel de Champlain, Lewis Evans, John Smith, Bernard Romans, as well as an important American Revolution manuscript plan of the American defences on the East River.

 

• The first book from Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia press Sewel, William. The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers...Philadelphia: Samuel Keimer and Benjamin Franklin, 1728. $20,000

 

• Among the first books published in the New World Veracruz, Alonso de la. Recognitio Summularum Reverendi Patris Illdephonsi a Vera Cruce Augustiniani Artium. Mexico City: Juan Pablos, 1554. $300,000.

 

• Historic naval commissions from the career of Oliver Hazard Perry, signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison [Perry, Oliver Hazard]; [Jefferson, Thomas]; [Madison, James]. Four Engraved Naval Commissions for Oliver Hazard Perry. Washington, 1807–1813. $35,000

 

William Reese Company New York Fair Highlights Catalogue (PDF) View the full William Reese Company Fair List (HTML)

 

Rare Book Monthly

  • DOYLE
    Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
    July 23, 2025
    DOYLE, July 23: WALL, BERNHARDT. Greenwich Village. Types, Tenements & Temples. Estimate $300-500
    DOYLE, July 23: STOKES, I. N. PHELPS. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. New York: Robert H. Dodd, 1915-28. Estimate: $3,000-5,000
    DOYLE, July 23: [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE, July 23: [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions. San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.
    DOYLE, July 23: TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. Anna Karénina ... in eight parts. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600
    DOYLE, July 23: ROWLING, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury, 2000. Estimate $1,200-1,800
  • Sotheby’s
    Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern
    Now through July 10, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Book of Hours by the Masters of Otto van Moerdrecht, Use of Sarum, in Latin, Southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Albert Einstein. Autograph letter signed, to Attilio Palatino, on his research into General Relativity, 12 May 1929. £12,000 to £18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: John Gould. The Birds of Europe, [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern
    Now through July 10, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Ian Fleming. A collection of James Bond first editions, 8 volumes in all. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.R.R. Tolkien. Autograph letter signed, to Amy Ronald, on Pauline Baynes's map of Middle Earth, 1970. £7,000 to £10,000.
  • Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!

Article Search

Archived Articles