The Blog of the ABAA

Outside the Park Avenue Armory, which is currently getting a facelift. (Photo courtesy of Neveen Marsh)

This past weekend’s NY Antiquarian Book Fair was a great success, with high attendance, eager  buyers, and, most importantly, fantastic inventory from over 200 exhibitors from around the world.  This was our largest NY Fair to date– there were so many enthusiastic dealers that the show floor was slightly expanded to accomodate the absolute maximum number of exhibitors– and dealers did not disappoint with the marvelous offerings they brought along.

The weather was spectacular– I heard it again and again throughout the fair and there truly is nothing like springtime in NYC– but that didn’t stop people from exploring the cavernous space of the Armory all weekend long.  There were also multiple celebrity sightings (more on that later) which only infused the show floor with additional excitement.

As an employee of the ABAA, I spend most of my time during the fairs in the ABAA booth handing out literature about the organization and fielding questions from attendees and exhibitors.  I enjoy the opportunity to speak with both attendees and dealers about the fair, and I’m particularly fond of the gusto book fair virgins have, the wonder and excitement they express at their discovery of the rare book world.  This isn’t to say that time in the booth doesn’t drag on a bit at times.  It does, but mostly because I get frustrated that I’m not exploring every nook and cranny in each booth.

Preview night at the NY Fair allows me the chance to explore, and it’s one of the many reasons I love this fair in particular.  On Thursday night the fair opens in preview– sales can take place but admission is slightly higher because you are truly getting first pick at a highly popular event– and I’m afforded the occasion to check things out for myself, say hello to members I don’t often see or have not yet met in person, and try to see as much as possible.  If you saw me on Preview night this year I probably looked like a chicken with its head cut off (though even wobblier in heels) as I tried to simultaneously meet, greet, and Tweet, all while trying to take in as much as possible.  I was taken by a number of natural history prints, beautiful pictures of flora and fauna; illuminated leaves; and original drawings from some of my childhood favorites.

Even with the time I had on preview night, I didn’t see the majority of what sellers had to offer at the fair, and it’s easy to see that if you really wanted to explore every nook and cranny you would need to attend the whole run of the show (and even then would be likely to leave stones unturned!).  For me, the fair is ambiguously overwhelming, exciting and anxiety producing at once, and I love it every time.

There was no question attendees were impressed and, from the post-fair reports that I’ve read, dealers sound very pleased with the weekend as well.  All in all a success!  (Please check out our Facebook page for more photos of the fair.)

If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s NY Fair, mark your calendar for next year and catch up with the ABAA & ILAB in Boston in November and/or San Francisco in February.

Show floor at a past NY Antiquarian Book Fair

For many readers of this blog, the answer is obvious, but based on the responses I occasionally receive when I tell people who I work for or about one of our fairs (blank stares and sometimes an “antiquari-what?), it’s very clear to me that not everyone is ‘in the know’. The most evident reason– to buy rare books– can be easily deduced, but it overlooks the pure pleasure of attending, whether you leave with books in hand or not, and what I consider to be the true spirit of the show: a celebration of books, history, and intellect.

I attended my first antiquarian book fair here in New York two years ago, before I had any idea what the ABAA was.  Literature has always played a central role in my life, both academically and personally, so when my aunt, also a bibliophile and minor collector, invited my boyfriend and I to attend the show with her we accepted eagerly. We were unsure of what to expect, but figured that if there were lots of books involved then it couldn’t be that bad.

Armed with no real expectations, I was staggered to arrive on the show floor and behold the immensity of the Armory and its current inhabitants– first editions of every classic I had ever read, texts from the Renaissance, maps and prints I had only seen the likes of in galleries and institutions.  I was overwhelmed, albeit in a good way, and before I had even begun to look around I realized that I wanted to spend more time there than I had allowed for that evening.

I wandered through the aisles in silent wonderment. (It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.) My memories of what I saw that night seem dreamlike– Ulysses with illustrations by Matisse, The Grapes of Wrath in its original dust jacket, illuminated manuscripts, Janis Joplin’s handwritten letters back home after her arrival in San Francisco…

The biggest impression left on me was not something I saw, however, but something an exhibitor said.  My aunt and I were in a booth excitedly peering at a book behind glass when the exhibitor offered to take the item out so we could have a closer look.  We explained that, although enthralled with the book, we weren’t planning on purchasing it and didn’t want to waste her time.  The exhibitor immediately shrugged off our concerns and took the book out of the case, allowing us to flip through the pages and providing us with more detailed information on the copy.  She encouraged us: “The fair is like a living museum– take advantage of it!”

That sentiment stuck with me and during my past two years with the ABAA it’s rung more and more true.  A “living museum” is the perfect way to describe an antiquarian book fair.  Each booth has its own curator, a seller with intimate knowledge and understanding of the items offered, and the best part is that you can take home parts of the exhibit!

Come visit NY’s living museum this weekend, I promise you won’t be sorry that you did and you may even leave with a pretty kick ass souvenir.

NY Antiquarian Book Fair
April 12-15
Park Avenue Armory
Fair Hours:
   Preview: Thursday April 12, 5-9 pm
   Friday, April 13: 12-8 pm
   Saturday, April 14: 12-7 pm
   Sunday, April 15: 12-5 pm