Our Beginnings

Sunrise Rare Books is owned and operated by John Schmitt, a book dealer with 10 years of professional bookselling experience. John’s background in carpentry and home renovations opened his eyes to the world of rare books and book collecting.

After acquiring a century-old house overflowing with the late owner’s collection, which had been amassed over many decades, John put several pieces up for sale to defray the cost of renovations. He subsequently developed a deep interest in the world of rare books and embarked on a nearly decade-long journey of traveling around the country in search of highly collectible works. John now works daily with collectors and book lovers all over the world, exploring collections large and small and finding new homes for the treasures from his ever expanding library. When he's not working at his bookstore, John spends his time remodeling and renovating homes in the Western New York area. 

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