Burrowing For Rare Finds

One thing Ezra Tishman wants to make clear from the outset is that he has not retired.

He has downsized, effective in early August, after selling Aardvark Rare Books following 30 years of stewardship. Those 30 years have seen the Eugene-based business become a national and international name in the rare books trade with more than 2,300 books for sale as well as Revolutionary War pamphlets, Civil War release papers, dust jackets, authentic signatures from historic figures — such as a baby shoe with an authenticated signature of Amelia Earhart at the bottom — and much more.

“At its foundation, Aardvark buys and sells rare and unanticipated titles,” says Josh Hirschstein, the new owner of Aardvark Rare Books. “We primarily buy from people in western Oregon who wish or need to downsize, or w