Max Harzof
Max Harzof | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1875 Vienna, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | Error: Need valid birth date (second date): year, month, day |
| Occupation | Bookseller |
| Known for | Proprietor of the Lexington Bookshop in New York City; specialist in rare and valuable books |
Max Harzof (1875 – January 3, 1942), widely recognized simply as Harzof, was an American bookseller and proprietor of the Lexington Bookshop located in New York City. He specialized in rare and valuable books, including volumes from the collection of Herman Melville.
Early life
Harzof was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, and his family relocated to New York City in 1881 following an incident involving military personnel. He completed grade school up to the age of twelve before entering the workforce as an office assistant for the bookselling firm F.W. Christern & Co.
Career
In 1905, Harzof established the Lexington Bookshop on Lexington Avenue under the corporate name G.A. Baker and Company Inc. Over a span of three decades, he earned a reputation as a knowledgeable authority on book valuations, providing guidance to serious collectors and scholars alike. Despite his considerable influence in the field, he typically refrained from seeking public acknowledgment or appearing in dedications. His services extended beyond sales to include insurance appraisals and tax assessments.
Harzof was noted for his straightforwardness and integrity in business dealings. For instance, he candidly acknowledged earning a $1,000 profit on a manuscript by Oscar Wilde. When questioned by clients regarding his assessments of damaged books, he defended his expertise with sharp wit. Occasionally, he expressed dissatisfaction through his catalog descriptions, such as when he labeled works by author Edward Larocque Tinker as "STINKER."
Prioritizing honesty over intellect, Harzof entrusted substantial sums of money to his assistant William Hobart Royce. During the economic hardships of the Great Depression, he supported David A. Randall by offering him employment at the shop for three years. Harzof also played a pivotal role in connecting Randall with Josiah K. Lilly Jr., which ultimately contributed to the creation of the Lilly Library at Indiana University through Lilly's generous donation of his collection.
Herman Melville
Following the death of Moby-Dick author Herman Melville in 1891, his widow sold his personal library to a Brooklyn bookseller for $110 after declining a $100 offer from a New York dealer. Items from this sale continued to surface throughout the region into the 1930s. Among these was Melville’s annotated edition of Thomas Beale's The Natural History of the Sperm Whale (London, 1839), which became part of Harzof’s maritime book holdings.
In 1932, Harzof uncovered Melville’s own copy of Owen Chase's Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex (New York, 1821), which contained eighteen pages of Melville’s handwritten notes revealing the deep impression that this account had made on him.
Death
Harzof passed away on January 3, 1942, at the age of 67. He was survived by his wife, Mildred. Following his death, ownership of his bookstore transferred to former employees John S. Kebabian and Bernard G. Otto.