Eberstadt, Edward, 1883-1958

Edward Eberstadt (1883-1958) was a rare book dealer in New York City whose private collection of Western Americana was continued by his sons Lindley and Charles and sold after they retired.

From the description of Eberstadt collection, 1699-1959. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 20660325

The Eberstadt Collection began with a few books that came into the possession of Edward Eberstadt (1883-1958) around the turn of the century while he was working in the West. He later realized their value and the potential of such items and took up book collecting as a profession in New York City. By the 1920s he had become a millionaire, and he weathered the Depression by means of his books.

Eberstadt's sons, Lindley and Charles, joined him in the business, and by the time they retired in the late 1960s their private collection of Western Americana had become legendary.

John H. Jenkins, bookseller and publisher of Austin, Texas, with the backing of Robert Venable, lawyer and oilman of Dallas, bought the collection in August of 1975 and moved it to Austin where it was sorted into subject components. The Texas and Southwestern materials were purchased that fall by the regents of The University of Texas. For an account of this acquisition, see: John Holmes Jenkins, The Eberstadt Caper (Austin: The Pemberton Press, 1975).

A large part of the archival material acquired by The University at that time has come to rest in this collection in the Center for American History, although some documents are to be found in the Benson Latin American Collection and in the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, as well as in other components of The University of Texas System.

From the guide to the Eberstadt Collection AR 76-62., 1699-1959, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)