The Baltimore Book Auction is the major arm of the Baltimore Book Company, which operates a small bookshop in the city. Founded in 1989 by Chris Bready, the auctions are far greater than a small shop might suggest. They specialize in books, manuscripts, photographs, maps and atlases, and other related ephemera.

While much of the material is related to Maryland, as the source usually is from estates and other private parties in the Baltimore area, items of national and greater scope are also common. The mix is wide, with some items selling for only $20 or $30, while others, such as an original Franklin letter, bring in tens of thousands of dollars. The result is these quarterly auctions draw bidders from all over the country.