Countdown to David Ruggles Prize Entry Deadline

With exactly one month to go before this year's June 8 deadline, the organisers of the David Ruggles Prize - the international book collecting prize that encourages and supports young collectors of color - are encouraging people to apply now.

The three prizes ($1,000 grand prize, $500 second prize, and $250 third prize) are awarded annually to applicants whose collections are considered most outstanding by its panel of judges. Entry is open to anyone aged 35 or younger, located anywhere in the world. 

"Receiving the David Ruggles Prize in 2023 was a profound turning point in my life," said previous winner Oscar Salguero. "It offered both recognition and support for my personal archiving project, Interspecies Library, and inspired me to pursue a more meaningful career path aligned with my passions." 

For Salguero, the benefits were as significant as they were unexpected. "Today, I’m honored to serve as the Assistant Director of Exhibitions at The Grolier Club. I remain deeply grateful for the opportunities the Ruggles Prize opened up, connecting me to a vibrant, welcoming community and reaffirming my commitment to the enduring magic of books." You can read more about the winners here.

As well as submissions from new collectors and anyone who missed last year’s deadline, people who applied in previous rounds but did not receive a prize, are encouraged to apply again. Past winners may also apply again after three years, with a different collection. The judges take an expansive view of the word 'book', and online application is easy. "Beyond rewarding existing collectors, we hope this prize will encourage young book lovers to become book collectors," say the organisers.

The prize honors the legacy of David Ruggles, an early American abolitionist, publisher, and Underground Railroad conductor. The New York grocery store he opened in 1828 soon became the country’s first Black-owned bookstore.