Maggs Bros. Ltd. is a proud sponsor of the David Ruggles Prize, which awards book collectors under the age of 35 who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour).
As of this year, our Far East Department specialist Euphemia Franklin has joined the panel of judges and looks forward to getting to know a new generation of burgeoning bibliophiles.
About the Prize
The David Ruggles Prize was established in 2021 to encourage and support young book collectors of colour. It honours 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.
The three prizes — $1,000 grand prize, $500 second prize, and $250 third prize — are awarded annually to applicants whose collections are deemed most outstanding by a panel of judges.
The prize takes an expansive view of the book; not just the familiar hardcovers and paperbacks, but zines, comic books, contemporary book art, whatever book means to you. Click here to see a list of previous prize winners.
Apply
Applications are now open for the 2026 David Ruggles Prize. Please follow this link to apply.
Please note that this year's deadline is 7th June 2026.
