To mark UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day on April 23, 2015, the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (an organization that encompasses twenty national associations representing antiquarian booksellers who sell books, manuscripts, prints, and maps in thirty countries around the world, including the ABAA) is sponsoring a series of Pop-Up Book Fairs around the world to raise awareness of their belief that "reading is a fundamental human right" and to raise money to support UNESCO's South Sudan Project. (link?)
Why April 23rd?
23 April is a symbolic date for world literature. It is on this date in 1616 that Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors around the world, such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
ILAB/ABAA members are organizing six Pop-Up Book Fairs in the US:
Chicago, Illinois
Location: Cliff Dwellers Club, 22nd Floor, 200 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Time: 5:30-7pm
Exhibitors: Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc.; Beasley Books; Bookleggers; Kurt Gippert Bookseller; Harlan J. Berk Ltd.; Jeff Hirsch Books; Powell’s Bookstore; Garrett Scott, Bookseller; and Stick Figure Books.
The event includes an array of hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Donation to UNESCO $25
RSVP to cliffdwellers@cliff-chicago.org.
New Castle, Delaware
Location: New Castle's historic Opera House
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Exhibitors: Oak Knoll Books; Ian Brabner Rare Americana (of Wilmington, Delaware); and Between the Covers Rare Books (from Gloucester City, NJ).
New York City, New York
The city that never sleeps brings UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day to the streets: the New York rare book dealers will pop up at busy places downtown Manhattan!
Location: The Grolier Club, 47 E 60th St, New York, NY
Time: 12-3pm
Portland, Oregon
Location: Lucky Lab Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214
Time: 11am-4pm
Exhibiting: Local ILAB/ABAA affiliates Old Imprints, Nat Des Marais, Philip J. Pirages Fine Books & Manuscripts, and Charles Seluzicki Fine & Rare Books will present a display and sale of antiquarian books and ephemera to highlight the cultural heritage of the book.
“Recognising the important place that books hold in the dissemination of knowledge, we will continue the work of our colleagues around the world to fill a "virtual bookcase" as participants and visitors donate money to buy books for school students in South Sudan. The Ephemera Society of the USA and the Cascades Booksellers Association will be joining us with informational booths. Informal "pop up" talks will include a presentation on the 19th century Portland illustrated magazine The West Shore and an "Introduction to Collecting Ephemera." To make our event authentically "Portland," the home of "more breweries than any other city on earth," we will be gathering at a brew pub, the Lucky Lab on Hawthorne Boulevard, a short walk over the Hawthorne Bridge from downtown Portland.” -- Elizabeth Burdon, Old Imprints
Seattle, Washington
Location: Sorrento Hotel, 9th & Madison Ave, Seattle, Washington
Time: 4-8pm
Exhibitors: Plaza Books, Taylor Bowie, John Michael Lang Fine Books, Ed Smith Books, and Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books.
“Informal "pop-up" talks on the items on displace will fill the evening, starting at 4 pm, at the beautiful Sorrento Hotel, a Seattle icon.” -- Ed Smith
Washington, DC
Location: Second Story Books (Dupont Circle) 2000 P St., N.W., Washington, DC.
Time: TBA
Exhibitor: Second Story Books
For more information about World Book & Copyright Day, click here...