It’s not every day something exciting comes along in book investing. However, owning the book collection of a former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg certainly sounds like a unique opportunity. Politics aside, many of the books offered in the Bonhams auction titled: The Library of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have been annotated.
Having annotated books might harm the value of a book if it was any old nobody making notes in a personal book collection. When it is a Supreme Court Justice AND when it is from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, that is entirely different. The annotations will only make these books that much more personable and unique, and they will only further back up the provenance for future generations.
Here are books from her early life that had a successful movie titled On The Basis of Sex which biographically showed the use of many of these books in the context of her time at Harvard and Columbia. There are also books that were simply for the pleasure of reading. The auction is January 19 – January 27, 2022.
According to Bonhams press release:
“This sale features approximately 100 lots of books, photographs, and ephemera from the Ginsburg’s private library, including textbooks from her days as a student, legal publications from her long career as a litigator and law professor, and literature read by both Ruth and Marty Ginsburg during their marriage (most with Ginsburg ownership bookplates to the front pastedowns). Notably included are Catcher in the Rye, Lady Chatterley’s Lover and titles by Ginsburg’s former Literature professor, Vladimir Nabokov, alongside volumes by Tolstoy and De Tocqueville.”
Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. This means collectibles are attracting the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds. Whether or not the bulk of these books will be classified as high-end collectibles remains to be seen. That said, some of these books are estimated to cost thousands of dollars. And it seems likely, based on other unique and iconic public figures’ belongings being auctioned, that at least some of the 1,000 lots (or so) could easily exceed the original estimates.
One interesting aspect of collectibles as an alternative asset class is whether or not this auction will attract any investors. Will investors speculate that the interest in Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s books will be stronger or weaker in time? That also remains to be seen.
Below are some of the other books with description that Bonhams featured. Price estimates were also included if they were shown.
Harvard Law Review, Volume 71. Cambridge, MA: The Harvard Law Review Association, 1957, 1958 with an estimate between $2,500.00 to $3,500.00. Annotated.
Fundamentals of Procedure in Actions at Law. New York: Baker Voorhis & Co., 1922 with an estimate between $1,500.00 to $2,500.00. Annotated and underscored. According to Bonhams: “Civil Procedure was a formative course for Ginsburg, whose mastery of the civil litigation system as a lawyer led to such landmark decisions as Roe v. Wade and Reed v. Reed, not to mention her spectacular judicial career. It is also one of the courses she taught during her long career as a law professor.”
“They Often Are Half Obscure: The Rights of the Individual and the Legacy of Olive Wendell Holmes.” Offprint from San Diego Law Review, Vol 29:3 (1992) with an estimate between $800.00 – $1,200.00. This book is Sandra Day O’Connor’s presentation copy to Ruth Bader Ginsburg signed and dated less than two weeks before President Clinton nominated her to the court.
Fordham Law Review… “Women in the Federal Judiciary: Three Way Pavers and the Exhilarating Change President Carter Wrought.” Offprint from Fordham Law Review, Vol 64 (1995): 2 with an estimate between $800.00 – $1,200.00. The book is a presentation copy presented to Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum and inscribed “Cheers to a great way paver in the Federal Legislature. Ruth”.
My Beloved World. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013 estimate between $300.00 – $500.00. Sotomayor’s memoir inscribed to Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the title page: “Ruth/ I hope you enjoy it/ Sonia”.
The sale according to the Bonhams will feature roughly 1,000 personal books dating from her years at Harvard and Columbia Law Schools. We were only able to profile a small portion of featured books but this will be something to see and bid on for any book collector. Imagine owning Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s copy of Catcher in the Rye?
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