Mark E. Mitchell

memitchell.jpgMark E. Mitchell, historian, dealer, advanced collector, speaker, appraiser, is considered to be one of the nation’s foremost authorities in the acquisition, research, marketing, and preservation of original historic newspapers, manuscripts, and documents. He has made numerous appearances on national television, radio and in print media. As president of The Mitchell Archives, Mr. Mitchell’s rare newspaper inventory contains approximately 20,000 original issues dating from the early 1600s to the present day, and is one of the nation’s finest and most historically-complete private holdings. Although the emphasis is on the period from the American Revolution through The Civil War, The Mitchell Archives includes virtually all subjects including military history, U.S. presidents, African American history, exploration, major scientific achievements, the Wild West, sports, world history, and other many areas.

Mr. Mitchell is highly regarded by the nation’s most prestigious institutions. For over thirty years, he has consulted with the Library of Congress–its leading authority has stated that Mark is “the person I turn to when I need additional expert opinion regarding the value, scarcity and authenticity of early newspapers.” Sotheby’s auction house regularly refers its inquiries concerning antique newspapers and historical documents and periodicals to Mr. Mitchell for authentication and appraisal. Likewise, Christie’s in New York also directs calls and letters to Mr. Mitchell and has been quoted as saying that “he is the expert in this area.” Mark is considered the top appraiser of rare newspapers in America, and some years ago completed the single-largest appraisal of historic newspapers in the industry–a multimillion dollar valuation for the Newseum.

Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Organization of American Historians (OAH), International Society of Appraisers (ISA), The Manuscript Society, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Virginia Historical Society, the Maryland Historical Society, Historical Society of Washington, DC,  the American Numismatic Association, and the Association of the United States Navy (Life Member).

Mark Mitchell is a native of Washington, DC, and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland. He is a retired Commander in the Naval Reserve, and plays jazz saxophone and flute professionally.

iwo.jpg