When people picture the Palm Beach lifestyle, they think of pristine beaches, luxury cars, and premier real estate. Tucked along the world-famous Worth Avenue, however, is a quieter kind of treasure. In a recent episode of the PBC Living Podcast, host Jamin sits down with Matthew Raptis, owner of Raptis Rare Books, for a wide-ranging conversation about the shop, the craft of collecting, and some of the most extraordinary pieces of history passing through Palm Beach.
A Custodian of History on Worth Avenue
Matthew Raptis describes how a childhood passion for books grew into a globally renowned antiquarian business, one that serves as a custodian of history for some of the most exclusive private libraries in the world. The conversation moves from designing million-dollar private home libraries in Palm Beach to a look inside the legendary J.P. Morgan Library and Museum, offering a rare window into a world most people never see.
The Golden Rule of Collecting
Why is one copy of a book worth a fortune while another is worth very little? Matthew explains the golden rule of the trade, that condition is everything, and clears up some of the most common misconceptions about the value of old books. He discusses why collectors prize author autographs and inscriptions, from Stephen King’s Carrie to long-lost inscribed copies by F. Scott Fitzgerald and J.R.R. Tolkien, and shares the story behind a remarkable sixteen-page handwritten letter by John Adams.
The Hunt for Literary White Whales
Some books are so rare that finding them becomes a lifelong pursuit. Matthew talks about hunting for literary white whales from Africa to South America, tracking down elusive signed copies of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, and the three rarest books in the world, among them the Gutenberg Bible and the Shakespeare First Folio. In an age of AI and digitalization, he makes the case for the enduring power of the original, physical book as a vessel of human thought.
Visit Us on Worth Avenue
Watch the full conversation above, then come see us in person. Raptis Rare Books is located on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, and our full collection is available online at RaptisRareBooks.com. Whether you are building a library or searching for a single treasured volume, we would be delighted to help.
