History of the collection

The Beginning

Barbara's Collectibles' wide-ranging catalog was first brought into being by one Jack Potter. Jack Potter was a well-established and thoroughly admired member of the bookseller world. He began his career with a small bookshop in Chicago, Illinois. Jack was around at the founding of the ABAA and had decades of experience running his Chicago bookshop before relocating to the intimate, vibrant town of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1969.

Nicholas Potter Bookseller

In 1975, Jack Potter passed away suddenly, leaving his little bookshop in a tragic limbo. Nick Potter, one of Jack's seven children, had recently graduated from Princeton with a degree in History and found himself selling wine for a living. When none of his siblings expressed interest in taking over the bookstore, Nick decided to assume the great responsibility of caring for the collection. Despite any prior intention of following in his father's footsteps, Nick began the journey of Nicholas Potter Bookseller at just 23 years old, and promptly fell in love with the life of bookselling.

Remembering Nick

For nearly 50 years Nick Potter built up the collection that exists today. He was incredibly knowledgable about antiquarian bookselling: Nick was a generalist with sharp expertise and an open, curious heart. His shop became an institution of downtown Santa Fe, and his charm, friendship, and wisdom were widely sought after and freely given. He was a cherished member of the ABAA (joined 1979) and a beloved part of the Santa Fe community. He sadly passed away on December 2nd, 2024, but remains deeply admired and loved by those that remember him.

The Legacy and Beyond

Nick Potter's books have passed through thousands of hands, live on bookshelves across the country, and even beyond this country's borders. Most of the collection has now been passed on to us, Barbara's Collectibles, and remains here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The collection of books is massive, with thousands of books still waiting to be delicately examined, or even unearthed from the crowded depths of storage units. Some days we open boxes that haven't been opened in decades. Not a day passes that we don't come across a trace of Nick Potter. He remains within the collection: in tiny inscriptions on the books' endpapers, in notes and postcards tucked into spines, in letters from 30 years ago concealed in bankers boxes. We are perpetually reminded of the man who poured his life and love into these books. We care for them now with gratitude and a commitment to do the best we can by them. Though it lives under a new name, the spirit and history of this collection is ever-present.