Second Story Books

Biography

Second Story Books was established in 1974 in Washington, DC with a core inventory of rare and out-of-print books and graphics. During the past 46 years of operating bricks-and-mortar stores and over 30 years of selling online, Second Story Books has created new departments with a strong track record in selling fine art, decorative art, Asian art and memorabilia, including sports, political science, Americana and entertainment. In addition to its two stores in Washington, DC, and Rockville, Maryland, Second Story Books is well-established as an online retailer. With extensive experience on a range of platforms, we have thousands of satisfied customers both in the United States and around the world. Owner-appraiser, Allan Stypeck has been a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers of America and International League of Antiquarian Booksellers since 1977 and a Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers since 1985. He has prepared thousands of appraisals for individuals, schools and institutions, including eight Nobel Prize recipients, the Library of Congress, Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, Supreme Court, White House, US Department of State, US Senate and House of Representatives, Department of Homeland Security, National Institutes of Health, National Park Service and US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Sally Kendrick, Director of Second Story Books’ Auctions on Invaluable, has a master's degree in art history from the University of Glasgow, studied at the London Rare Books School, and formerly worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery). Kim Stypeck is an USPAP certified personal property appraiser, Director of Second Story Books’ Art and Decorative Arts department and a member of Second Story Books’ Invaluable team.