The Bowtie Bookseller Who Lived History | Cincinnati News

William C. Smith, tweed-clad rare book dealer and self-taught Americana historian, turned childhood memories of 1880s Cincinnati—complete with sawdust saloons and spilled beer—into vivid literary sketches that still feel like firsthand accounts. Though he never finished high school, his voracious reading fueled a decades-long career selling rare American texts worldwide, culminating in his 1959 memoir “Queen City Yesterdays.” He even penned satirical “Blue Law Ballads” mocking Prohibition. But his legacy nearly unraveled in 1936 when he was arrested for allegedly fencing stolen Congressional Library books—though he claimed ignorance without markings. With powerful allies in the book world and legal community rallying his defense, he walked free as the thief’s testimony crumbled. His story is a charming, quirky, and surprisingly dramatic window into America’s past—where dime novels, bowties, and courtroom drama collided. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7cf62887e9e6c1d5