For over 30 years, I have been the president of James Lowe Autographs, Ltd., a retail establishment I founded in 1969 dealing in historical, literary, and musical autographs and manuscripts, as well as 19th century photographs, and through which I have assisted hundreds of libraries, institutions and collectors in forming some of the finest collection of autographs and manuscripts in the country. Located on New York's fashionable upper East Side for 25 years, the firm has long been a favorite shopping spot for the chic and famous, with clientele ranging from the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Kennedys and Astors to U.S. presidents, rock stars, TV personalities, and even a pope. Our gallery is open by appointment only. We issue occasional catalogues.

As an autograph expert, I have been called upon over the years to authenticate letters, documents and manuscripts for such organizations as the Library of Congress, Pierpont Morgan Library, New York Public Library, Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, Douglas MacArthur Archive, University of California, Museum of American Financial History, Sotheby's, Christie's, Swann Auction Galleries, in addition to numerous autograph and book dealers and institutions. In 1998, I was called as an expert witness by the U.S. Justice Department to assist in authenticating and appraising the disputed presidential papers of Richard Nixon.

Since 1992, I have acted as consultant for, as well as appraiser and chief authenticator of the multi-million dollar  Gilder-Lehrman Collection of Historical American Documents housed at the New York Historical Society in New York City, appraising and authenticating tens of thousands of historic letters and documents in the Collection.

In addition to normal retail, appraisal and authentication activities, I have served since 1994 as consultant and resident autograph expert to R.M. Smythe & Co., the internationally renowned auction company in New York City.

I have written over 50 articles on autographs and authentication techniques for a variety of publications, including American Book Collector, Antiquarian Bookman's Weekly, and Financial History, and at present, I am the author of a monthly column covering autograph authentication problems for Autograph Collector magazine, a California-based publication which has a worldwide presence both in print and on the internet. I have pioneered and edited such publications as The Professional Rare Bookman [journal of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America] and The Rare Book Tapes [audio history of bookselling for the ABAA]. In 2002, I received the UACC Dealer of the Year Award for my contributions to the autograph industry.

As a long-time member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, the Manuscript Society, and the Professional Autograph Dealers Association, I have served on the boards of each organization, and am a member of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers.