Celebrating Young Female Book Collectors: Highlights from the 2025 Honey & Wax Prize

Recognition of Young Collectors

Established in 2017, the Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize focuses on American women collectors aged 30 and younger, aiming to challenge stereotypes about who can collect books. Each year, the prize seeks to spotlight original collections that often go unnoticed in the rare book market, encouraging aspiring collectors to view their bookshelves as sources of history and identity.

Winner of the 2025 Prize

In its ninth year, the prize saw an exceptional array of submissions, resulting in Alexandra E. LaGrand being awarded the $1,000 prize. A doctoral candidate at Texas A&M University, LaGrand's collection titled “Archiving the Shakespearean Breeches Actress” shines a light on the unique performances of women in roles traditionally written for men, a topic she explores through nearly forty artifacts.

LaGrand’s collection features manuscripts, playbills, historical letters, and rare photographs, each piece helping to document the cultural significance of Shakespearean breeches actresses throughout the nineteenth century. Central to her collection is a focus on Charlotte Cushman, an influential American actress known for her portrayal of male characters. LaGrand’s engaging quote explains her motivation: “I wanted to collect items [Cushman] had touched in order to closely feel the history of her career...over the years, I grew more ambitious, seeking out wholly unique and thus more special and valuable items that documented her career.”

Honorable Mentions

Alongside LaGrand's recognition, five honorable mentions were awarded, each receiving $250. Among them, Ashleigh McConnell's journey with Jane Eyre reflects a deep personal connection through a collection that encompasses over three hundred editions of the beloved novel. McConnell's collecting efforts intertwine her explorations across Europe and the United States, turning her collection into a memoir of sorts.

Nat McGartland, who is also a doctoral candidate, has focused her efforts on collecting texts that highlight the Scots language's political history, gathering rare documents such as the first printed edition of The Brus and texts exploring contemporary Scottish literature. She sees her collection as a way to connect historical practices with modern expressions.

Bella Savignano's project, “Flashbang: Amplifying a Revisionist History of Glam Rock,” started unexpectedly with a box of vintage images related to a pivotal NYC boutique that defined the glam rock aesthetic. Her archival work aims to reconstruct the vibrant culture of the 1970s Rock scene through ephemera.

Amalia V., a professional dominatrix, brings an influential perspective to the collection of over 150 materials focused on sex work and Female Domination (FemDomme). Through her work, she advocates for the censorship-free documentation of marginalized voices within the erotic landscape, seeing her collection as a necessary preservation of culture often overlooked.

Jaeden Yoshikawa’s collection explores cultural sites tied to love, featuring real photo postcards that reveal personal narratives and forgotten histories connected to these romantic locations. This exploration of scenic ephemera offers insights into societal views on relationships and nostalgia over time.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize not only celebrates the unique collections of these women but also sets a precedent for future generations. As younger collectors see their passions recognized, it may inspire them to engage with literature, history, and the act of collecting in ambitious, creative ways.

As the viewing public is invited to explore the diverse and rich narratives behind these collected works, it's evident that the efforts of these young women extend far beyond mere acquisition; they are building archives that enrich our understanding of culture and history.

For more insight into LaGrand’s project, her winning essay and bibliography are available online. A showcase of last year’s winners can also be viewed for those wishing to follow the continuing legacy of this esteemed prize.