Oliver Bayliss on Graham Greene's Dracula, Private Members' Clubs, and New Ideas for the Rare Book Trade

Our Bright Young Booksellers series continues today with Oliver Bayliss, proprietor of Bayliss Rare Books in London.

How did you get started in rare books?

A short answer would be that I loved reading growing up, and that led here. A longer answer would be that, at a young age, the short stories of Saki really set me off into the world of great writing and from that, over time, I developed a love of collecting books which grew and grew until here we are today. The teenage me finding out the adult me is a rare book dealer would be very happy with how it all turned out. The road was long, but it has been quite the adventure, and I’m only just getting started.

When I left school I became a chef, but I knew the whole time that a life in books was where I was meant to be. That said, I do still make a mean Sunday roast, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

I cut my teeth at a dealer in Mayfair and learned a lot there. But even from early on, I had a strong sense that I wanted to do things differently and carve out my own space in this already niche trade. I suggested various new ways we might reach new clients, but most of it fell on deaf ears. Thankfully, when I left and put those ideas into practice, they worked. That experience taught me something important: trust your gut. There are endless ways to approach the rare book trade, and even more ways to approach how we share it with the world.

When did you open Bayliss Rare Books and what do you specialise in?

I opened in May 2021. The pandemic was still raging, but like most people at the time, I took stock of where I was and thought, I’m young enough to give this a proper go. If it doesn’t work, well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I was lucky with early clients, and the business grew quickly. Now, over four years later, I’ve built a global client base and get to handle material usually reserved for the more established old guard.

I deal in everything from literature to flags. I was once asked to source a WWII tank...... funny old day that. I suppose I should add Arms Dealer to the business card! My one rule is that I only sell items I love. That opens the door to a wide range of material, from first editions and travel books to photography, posters and memorabilia. I like ticking a lot of boxes.

What do you love about the book trade?

The unpredictability. One day you’re in the studio cataloguing something quiet and lovely, the next you’re negotiating a major deal or heading off last minute to see something extraordinary. I get to handle objects that most people only see behind glass, and then place them in collections where they’ll be properly treasured. That’s pretty special.

Describe a typical day for you:

Every day starts with a coffee and a plan, and by lunchtime the plan is in tatters. You think you’ll finally tackle the stack of books on your desk, and by 11am a client is asking you to track down an obscure edition they read about in an old catalogue. Then a source sends over something that stops you in your tracks.

Some days a long-running deal finally comes together. Other days you send out a press release and suddenly find yourself chatting to a journalist at The Times. It is a much faster-paced job than people think. Rare books might seem like a slow, quiet world, but in practice it’s anything but.

Then there are the days spent organising exhibitions or pop-ups. Or the spontaneous ones, where I’m on a train or a flight to chase something rare and brilliant for a client. I’ve done all sorts of jobs - gardening, cheffing, and a few other things I’ve blocked out - but this is the one I love.

Favourite rare book (or ephemera) you’ve handled?

There have been a lot. I’ve been lucky to handle some of the rarest works in the world, but one that really stands out is a first edition of Dracula previously owned by Graham Greene. That came up in my first year of trading as Bayliss Rare Books.

Money was tight, as it often is in year one, but I knew I had to have it. I love Dracula and I love Graham Greene, so to have a copy with that kind of literary provenance felt like a personal milestone. Being a bit trigger-happy at auction, I ended up spending most of the company funds on it.

That night, my fiancée and I decorated the Christmas tree and, in the photos, I look completely ashen. I think it had just dawned on me that I might have accidentally bankrupted the business. Thankfully, it sold quickly and went to a very good home. It was a learning curve, yes, but it also confirmed that instinct is everything in this game.

What do you personally collect?

Agatha Christie. Quietly and happily.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Books have rather become my everything, "a gentle form of madness," to use the famous quote. That said, I do enjoy boxing and the odd bit of my own writing. Though I admit that does make it sound a bit like I’m cosplaying as Hemingway.

Thoughts on the present state and future of the rare book trade?

There’s a new generation of dealers coming through who bring the same kind of creative energy and visual instinct you’d normally associate with the art world, and I think that’s a very good thing. Rare books don’t have to be locked in the image of a dusty, wood-panelled gentleman’s library. The best of them are cultural objects, beautiful, scarce, and full of stories. They deserve to be seen, talked about, and showcased in bold, imaginative ways. I’m genuinely excited about where the trade is heading.

Any upcoming fairs or catalogues?
I’m currently working with a few private members’ clubs in London on some special partnerships for their members. More on that soon.