Book Fairs

The ABAA invites bibliophiles everywhere to join the hunt for rare books and all manner of fine works on paper at the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America's Virtual Book Fair: New York Edition. This will take place September 9-12, in lieu of the in-person New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. The in-person fair has been moved to April 2022, due to the rise of the Delta variant. Both American and international exhibitors will offer a rich selection of manuscripts, unique ephemera, artist books, zines, as well as early American and European literature, modern first editions, children's books, maps, autographs, photographs, and more. "The New York Antiquarian Book Fair has long been the premier showcase for some of the finest material brought to market. This year's virtual edition will be no exception,” said ABAA President Brad Johnson. “As they say, there's no place like New York, but the prudent plan is to wait until next year to convene in person.” “The virtual book fairs have been an important way for booksellers and collectors to stay connected during this past year and a half of closures and canceled in-person events, and they have produced a number of unexpected benefits,” said Sheryl Jaeger, ABAA Vice President and Chair, Virtual Book Fair Committee. “Once again, we're taking the opportunity to be together without leaving home, flying, or packing your wares. Customers can search the entire fair, quickly by product type, category, price, or ... [more Announcing the Virtual Book Fair: New York Edition]

Join the ABAA and ABA for a variety of panels hosted during the Transatlantic Book Fair! 007: The Transatlantic Appeal of Ian Fleming's James Bond Friday, July 23 at 12:00pm ET Panelists: Jon Gilbert, Rebecca Baumann, Ajay Chowdhury Register here... The irrepressible James Bond is returning to the big screen soon in the film “No Time to Die.” Join us at the Transatlantic Book Fair for a panel, hosted by Fleming bibliographer and bookseller Jon Gilbert, discussing Ian Fleming and his iconic character, James Bond. Panelists: Jon Gilbert is an English bibliophile, historian and the official bibliographer of Ian Fleming, creator of the fictional character James Bond. He is also an authority on J.K. Rowling first editions. He was educated at Caterham School and Roehampton Institute London. According to Fleming-family publisher Queen Anne Press, Gilbert is perhaps the foremost expert on the works of Ian Fleming and the literary history of James Bond. Through Adrian Harrington booksellers, he has become an internationally renowned dealer in rare Fleming material, and is a member of the Ian Fleming Foundation. Ian Fleming: The Bibliography, which was published in October 2012, is the result of both a career immersed in the writings of Ian Fleming, and four years intensive research following Fleming's centenary year in 2008. The book was the winner of the 16th ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography, awarded in 2014. Rebecca Baumann is the Head of Public Services at the Lilly Librar... [more Transatlantic Book Fair Public Programs]

Virtual book fairs have been embraced by both booksellers and collectors as a way to share new acquisitions and bring the collecting community together during the pandemic. Our next virtual book fair will be the Transatlantic Book Fair -- jointly produced and promoted by the ABAA and our colleagues in the UK, the ABA. The Transatlantic Book Fair takes place from July 22 to July 27, 2021 at transatlanticbookfair.com... The Fair will remain open for six days and will feature rare book dealers from both sides of 'the pond.' Hours: Opens 2pm mid-Atlantic time (9am PDT, noon EDT, 5pm London, 6pm CET) July 22. Closes 8pm mid-Atlantic time (3pm PDT, 6pm EDT, 11pm London, midnight CET) July 27 The fair will be free & open to the public! More details will be announced soon. Join the mailing list for updates about the Transatlantic Book Fair.... Visit transatlanticbookfair.com to preview the dealers involved. [more Get Ready for the Transatlantic Book Fair]

Imagine walking through the California International Antiquarian Book Fair with some of the foremost experts in a collecting field, listening as they discuss the significance of items offered for sale. Now, this will be possible when you join one of the free virtual tours happening live during the California Virtual Book Fair, March 4-6. Tours will center around three subjects: Californiana, Cookery, and materials documenting LGBTQ+ history. All you will need is an Internet connection to follow along. During each of the tours, our experts will comment live while sharing their computer screens and scrolling instead of strolling through the book fair. Once they've had a chance to share a few of their favorite things, they will answer your questions. Tour participants are also invited to comment in chat as the tour moves through the fair. The virtual tour program opens with our experts in culinary history on Thursday, March 4th at Noon PST/3 pm EST. They will examine the important cookery books and food- and drink-related ephemera offered at the book fair. Your tour guides will be Ben Kinmont, an artist, publisher, and antiquarian bookseller specializing in gastronomy; Lynda Claassen, Director of Special Collections & Archives at UC San Diego, and Randall Tarpey Schwed, a collector of books and ephemera primarily related to 20th century California gastronomy. Register for this event... On Friday, March 5, plan to tag along for the virtual tour with our specialists and scholars e... [more California Book Fair Virtual Tours]

A further addition to our lineup of special events during the California Virtual Book Fair is a special panel on horology, timepieces, and the history of watchmaking with experts in the field. Thursday, March 4 at 11 am PST/2 pm EST. A Matter of Time -- in partnership with Vacheron Constantin Join knowledgeable panelists as they explore topics ranging from horology, timepieces, the artistry and history of watchmaking, rare books and archival materials. Vacheron Constantin will highlight Les Collectionneurs, its exceptional line of vintage watches. Sigrid Offenstein, Collections and Archives Manager at Vacheron Constantin, joined the company 7 years ago. She was previously a consultant and instructor on paper and electronic archiving questions. She has been able to lead various projects within the private and institutional sectors, ranging from library restructuring to the digitization of documents. Having studied humanities and social sciences, she specialized in audiovisual and digital archives. She has been able to combine her passion for archives and history with her specialty by working within Vacheron Constantin on innovative projects, combining modern technologies and historical collections. Today she is an active member of the Association of Swiss Archivists (ASA), secretary for the Training Committee, and member of the Corporate Archives Committee inside ASA. Jonathan Hill is a rare book and manuscript seller specializing in science, medicine, natural history, bibliog... [more Special Event: A Matter of Time]

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New York Book Fair Preview

By Rich Rennicks

Preview some of the exciting rare books and related items you'll find at the 60th annual New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. Wells, H G. THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON Indianapolis: The Bowen-Merrill Company, . Octavo, pp. 1-312, twelve inserted plates with illustrations by E. Hering, title page printed in black and red, original pictorial cloth, front panel stamped in gold and blind, spine panel stamped in gold, rear panel stamped in blind. First edition, first binding with "Bowen / Merrill" at base of spine panel, variant with moon gold stamped and author and title gold stamped on front panel. Inscribed and signed on the half title page by Apollo 11 astronaut and first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Preceded the British edition by approximately one month. The two editions have minor textual differences. "... a gripping adventure story as well as a historic milestone in modern science fiction." - Survey of Science Fiction Literature II, pp. 782-86. "The last and most complex is THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON. The two first men, Bedford and Cavor are well-contrasted, the civilization of the Selenites is excellent both as horror and satire; and the novel abounds with wonderful passages of unforced description at which Wells is unrivaled ... This lovely book also contains much of Wells's delightful humor; it has kept the joints of his discourse oiled to this day. After THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON, Wells's science fiction novels are never quite the same." - Bleiler (ed),... [more New York Book Fair Preview]

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2020 New York Book Fair

By Rich Rennicks

“Many of the books at the fair are not just limited editions, but truly one of a kind.” — New York Times The rare-book world descends on New York over the weekend of March 5-8, 2020 for the 60th New York International Antiquarian Book Fair at the Park Avenue Armory! The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair will feature over 200 exhibitors, carrying a vast treasure trove of rare and scarce material with them: rare books, maps, illuminated manuscripts, incunabula, fine bindings, illustrations, historical documents, rare prints and print ephemera, and so much more. The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. Special Events: Preview Night — Thursday, March 5, 5pm-9pm Be among the first to see what's on display. Discovery Day — Sunday, March 8th, 1pm-3pm. Do you have a particularly old or rare books in your collection? Discovery Day gives ticketed visitors an opportunity to bring their own rare books, manuscripts, maps, etc. (up to five items) for evaluation by our panel of exhibitors. So, plan to bring in your treasures — we want to see them! Location: Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, New York City Opening Hours: Friday, March 6, noon-8pm Saturday, March 7, noon-7pm Sunday, March 8, noon-5pm Admission: Preview Night: Thursday, March 5, 5pm-9pm $60 Admission — Includes one daily re-admission Weekend: $25 General $10 Students (w... [more 2020 New York Book Fair]

The New York Antiquarian Book Fair celebrates its 58th year in 2018. From March 8-11, 2018 book lovers will find a fascinating treasure trove at the Park Avenue Armory. Over 200 American and international dealers will exhibit at The ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, bringing a vast selection of rare books, maps, manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts and ephemera. The diversity of specialties includes art, medicine, literature, photography, autographs, first editions, Americana, and much more. “The best book fair in the world.” – Andy Rooney This book fair is officially sanctioned by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This means that the consumer can rely upon the experience and professionalism of participating dealers and the authenticity of the items available for purchase. Simply stated, all books, manuscripts and related material have been carefully examined for completeness and bibliographic accuracy. New York Antiquarian Book Fair When: Thursday, March 8 (5-9pm) — Preview Night! Friday, March 9 (noon-8pm) Saturday, March 10 (noon-7pm) Sunday, March 11 (noon-5pm) Events: Discovery Day, Sunday (1pm-3pm) Bring a treasure to be evaluated by our experts! Free with paid admission to the Fair. Tickets: Preview Pass (Good for the weekend) — $60 (includes one re-admission daily) Daily Admission: $25 Students: $10 (with valid ID) Run of Show: $45 (Student and Run of Show tickets onl... [more New York Antiquarian Book Fair 2018]

Pardon the pun, but the 51st California International Antiquarian Book Fair is going to be a monster event! Not only are about 200 rare book dealers from around the world bringing the cream of their respective crops to Pasadena, but it's also the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and there's going to be a huge exhibit to celebrate the classic book. From the organizers: From February 9-11, 2018, Southern California hosts the nation's largest rare book exhibition as thousands of book lovers, booksellers, and scholars converge at the 51st California International Antiquarian Book Fair. The 2018 Book Fair also celebrates the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus with a special exhibit spotlighting holdings from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Occidental College Library's Ned Guymon Mystery and Detective Fiction Collection, University of California Riverside Library's Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Sara Karloff, the daughter of Boris Karloff. Recognized as one of the world's pre-eminent exhibitions of antiquarian books, this eagerly anticipated bi-annual fair gives visitors the opportunity to see, learn about and purchase the finest in rare books, manuscripts, autographs, graphics, photographs and more. Featuring over 200 booksellers from the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), ... [more California Book Fair 2018]

It's time for another batch of rare books and print ephemera that our members will be bringing to the 51st California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena, CA next weekend. (You'll find the first batch here...) Stoker, Bram, DRACULA'S GUEST AND OTHER WEIRD STORIES London, George Routledge & Sons, 1914. First edition. 12mo. 200pp. With "First Published in 1914" on the copyright page. Publisher's linen-textured red cloth blocked in blind on the spine and upper board, and with a gilt spine title. We note some foxing on the edges of the textblock, a tiny spot on the upper board, and oiffset on the free endpapers where the dustwrapper ended. Otherwise this is a very nice copy. Neat ownership name on the front pastedown dated July, 1914. In scarce, full color dustwrapper with art by Handforth. The dustwrapper bears the "2/- net" sticker on the spine and so is second state. There is a trace of roughness along the edges but it is in near fine condition.'Dracula's Guest' is a previously unpublished episode from an early draft of Dracula and is published here with eight other stories by Stoker. (Offered by Thorn Books) Pynchon, Thomas. Gravity's Rainbow New York: The Viking Press, (1973). First edition. 760 pp. Price of $15.00 on front flap of jacket. Nominated for the 1973 Nebula Award for Best Novel and winner of the National Book Award in 1974. Just about Fine in a like dust jacket that is bright, unfaded, and clean. A beautiful copy of Pynchon's masterpiece, a landmark w... [more 2018 California Book Fair Preview (Part 2)]