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Who is behind 'International Chess Auctions'

by Alexander Baburin

It's always a bit difficult to deal with somebody whom you don't know personally, at least in the beginning. To help to overcome this problem, we created this page, where you can learn 'who is who' in our Auction House. You can also find some references on this page. Below are our short resumes.

Jim Hayes

Jim Hayes is 56 years old and has been involved in collecting and researching all aspects of chess literature and memorabilia for over 40 years. He inherited his love of chess books from his father who introduced him to collecting by giving him his own small though select library when he was 14 years old. Since then he has travelled extensively throughout the world, never missing an opportunity to add to his own knowledge of all aspects chess bibliography. He has stopped collecting to avoid a conflict of interests with the auctioneering business. Jim is also a frequent contributor to chess journals as a poet and commentator.

Reference 1
"For more than ten years I have regularly dealt with Jim Hayes of Kilkenny in buying, selling and
exchanging chess books and chess literature. Substantial sums of money have often been involved.
During all that time there has never been a dispute about payment and all amounts due to me have
been paid in full when requested." Clive Farmer , Devon , UK.

Alexander Baburin

I am 32 years old and I am a professional chess player (International Grandmaster), journalist and author. I have been interested in chess literature for many years and collected chess books while in Russia. I gave up collecting when I moved to Ireland in 1993. Two years later I became a book dealer and over period of time I developed good business relations with many collectors and dealers around the world. I have been supplying books (mainly in Russian) to the Royal Dutch Library in Hague in the Netherlands and to the Cleveland Public Library in USA.

Business references

Reference 1. "It has been a great pleasure for the Royal Library in The Hague to work with Alexander Baburin. We have been able to add many Russian titles to our chess collection, and fill gaps, which had arisen over the course of time. Alexander Baburin's bibliographical descriptions are very thorough and his catalogues a joy to go through. Baburin's service is excellent in all ways, which is very important for a library as ours since many departments are involved in the process of ordering books.
The only problem with Mr. Baburin's catalogues is that obviously many of his customers share our opinion. We really cannot loose time when a new catalogue has been issued, if we wait too long many of his titles we would like to order have already been sold." Henriette Reerink, Acting Curator, Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana, Royal Library, The Hague.

Reference 2. "I have 'electronically' known GM Baburin for about two years, and not only has he proven to be a strong grandmaster and excellent author, but also a most reliable book dealer. A rare combination indeed. I can only wish him a well deserved success in his new auction site, and hope that he will be coming with more rarities (I still have some more in my wish list!)." Eduardo Bauzá Mercére, New York.

Reference 3. "From the beginning of Alexander Baburin's dealing in chess books I have been a regular customer. I have always found him to be courteous, efficient and reliable." Ken Whyld, ken@kwhyld.freeserve.co.uk

Reference 4. "I have been dealing with Alex Baburin for several years and have been very pleased with the selection offered by Alex and with his excellent and prompt service. His catalogues are very detailed and a joy to read." Michael D. Sharpe (Canada).

Reference 5. "I am happy to recommend Alexander Baburin as a man with whom it is a pleasure to do business with. His honesty is impeccable, and he treats his customers like family. Once, an uninsured order of mine was lost in the mail, and Alexander made up for the lost order even though he was under no obligation to do so. He is a grandmaster of chess and of customer relations." Richard Reich (USA)

Reference 6. "I have been a customer of Mr. Baburin for several years. During this time, I have found that he has taken care to give accurate descriptions as to the condition and content of books and magazines. He has provided detailed responses to questions, and his shipment of orders have been timely and well packaged. I would recommend him highly to anyone who seeks a dependable source of chess literature." Raymond Kuzanek (USA)