Join our Rare Books, Manuscripts and Maps Department

This maternity cover role will be primarily responsible for winning business, receipting, cataloguing and preparing consigned property for auction and private sales. Responsibilities include business getting, processing consigned objects, including research and catalogue entry writing and proofing; coordination of photography and varying duties as dictated by the Department’s needs. Industry experience is essential.

Working as part of the Book Department team reporting to the Head of Department, your role is responsible for the following duties:

Client Relations

· Full time contact for department

· Deal with client queries by telephone/post/e-mail

· Visit clients at locations across UK to establish relations and source material

· Alongside the departmental administrator, deal with queries regarding incoming and outgoing goods

Co-ordination of Three Specialist Sales A Year

· To continually meet strict deadlines

· Source and consign material from the UK and beyond through developing client relationships and undertaking visits and valuations

· Value consigned material

· Catalogue and photograph books, maps, manuscripts, photographs and original illustrations

· With the departmental administrator, organise catalogue photography

· Oversee the design of catalogue

· Monitor vendor contracts and approve pre-sale advice

· Contact interested parties about forthcoming sale

· Pack all lots, transportation from store to sale room

· Set up sale room

· Supervise viewing for each sale

· Assist with and monitor press calls relating to the sale

· Complete and send condition reports and additional images to interested buyers

· Clear sale room and co-ordinate the distribution

· With the departmental administrator, undertake post-sale duties, such as co-ordinating post-sale offers and answering vendors’ and buyers’ enquiries

Sale Duties

· Control of condition report requests and replies

· Contribute to auctioneering duties during book sales

· Assist with online bidding, clerking and telephone bidding duties during sales

Budgets

· Control department spending on marketing, photography, catalogue production with Head of Department

· Work with Head of Department to re-allocate spending to more worthwhile areas

Specialist Knowledge

· Work with other members of the department to develop specialist knowledge

Valuations

· Complete valuations for insurance and tax planning upon the instruction of the Valuations department

Events

· Organise book department events including lunches, private views, dinners, visits to booksellers co-ordinate presence at ABA book fairs throughout the year (Edinburgh/London)

Marketing

· Updating book department page of website pre/post sale reports, top lots, news stories etc

· Work with the Marketing Department to organise appropriate marketing for each sale

· Source alternative advertising opportunities to target new sources of buyers/vendors work with production on advert design

Personal Specification

· Some prior knowledge or experience of valuing books and printed material for sale

· Ability to deal with clients in a professional manner representing Lyon and Turnbull

· Ability to understand and complete administration procedures in the Lyon and Turnbull style

· Able to type to a high standard

· Ability to understand and further the aims of Lyon and Turnbull

· Highly developed interpersonal skills with experience of forming, maintaining and developing relationships with a range of individuals

· Good communication skills including listening skills and the ability to give information clearly

· Reporting and monitoring skills

· Ability to prioritise within tight deadlines

· Able to present letters in a professional manner

· A full clean driving license would be beneficial

Location: 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh EH1 3RR

Hours of work: Office hours 8.30 – 5.30 Monday to Friday. The nature of the post means that the post-holder will need to be able to be flexible, there will be busy times and quieter times. Occasional weekend/evening hours.

Salary: Dependant on experience

Annual leave: 20 annual leave days, 8 bank holidays, Christmas closure & birthday!

Commencing: January/February 2022

To apply, submit a CV and covering letter to Head of Operations, Laura Henderson on laura.henderson@lyonandturnbull.com demonstrating your suitability for the role and how you meet the skills and experience.