Rosenbach Museum Asks Probate Court to Compel Sendak Estate, Foundation to Turn Over Rare Books

When author Maurice Sendak died a little over two years ago, his will left a large rear-books collection to the Rosenbach Museum and Library where he was involved as a board member and frequently deposited his books. However, his will left some aspects to be negotiated by his executors and the museum. No agreement has been reached and the museum has grown concerned that an upcoming auction by Sendak’s estate will include some of the rare books.

The museum has brought suit in probate court to prevent any of the disputed books from being auctioned and to compel the estate to hand over the books that the museum believes Sendak intended the museum to have. The estate denies that any of the disputed books will be auctioned and argues that some of the disputed books are not required to be given to museum because they are not actually “rare books,” either because they are children’s books or are not bound.

See Peter Dobrin, Rosenbach Sues Sendak Foundation Over Rare Books, Philly, Nov. 9, 2014.

Special thanks to Reid K. Weisbord (Vice Dean, Professor of Law, School of Law-Newark) for bringing this article to my attention.