The 2009 Antiquarian Book Fair showcases a whole new level of interest and expansion for clients and sellers.

This year the familiar café area on the exhibiting floor has moved to make way for the high demand of collectors and generally bigger stands, and so for the first time the fair will spread to the lower ground floor.

‘Downstairs’ at the fair will be devoted to complementary exhibitors such as professional crafts men and women, institutions, associations, specialist publications, and the enlarged café and bar area. 

This additional level will both enhance the comfort of clients and collectors alike, as well as bringing a new dimension of interest and stimulation to the oldest established bookfair in the world. 

Visitors and exhibitors will be able to relax in the new café and bar area, with the opportunity to watch highly trained bookbinders at work, view and subscribe to the latest publications or inquire about relevant associations and institutions.

For further information regarding the ‘Downstairs’ space at the Antiquarian Book Fair or complimentary tickets, please contact the ABA
Tel: 020 7439 3118 
Fax: 020 7439 3119 
or email: admin@aba.org.uk

http://www.olympiabookfair.com/

London’s Annual Irish Literary Fair will take place this Saturday 7th March, at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith.

Established as London’s leading and largest Irish Literary event, this year includes a special appearance from the acclaimed Novelist and Screenwriter Bernard MacLaverty, author of Lamb and Cal.

A wide array of celebrated Irish writers will provide readings from their own work, including, the author, journalist and broadcaster Mary Kenny, who will read from her latest novel, Crown and Shamrock. 

Clair Wills, from Oxford University will read from her recent book The Neutral Island and Charles Egan will read from his debut novel The Killing Snows, set in the height of the Great Hunger in County Mayo. Irish Historian and author Anne Rossiter will launch her new book Invisible Export, in which she looks at the hidden history of Irish Women’s diaspora.

To set the appropriate tone for the Fair, The Irish Centre has arranged to hold a special preview evening on the Friday 6, with readings from three of Ireland's leading writers; Derek Mahon, Bernard McClaverty and Roisin McAuley.

“Wandering the aisles of the annual Antiquarian Book Fair, at the Park Avenue Armory, is like being a fly on the wall at the ultimate dinner party.” - New York Times

The 49th edition of the prestigious New York Antiquarian Book Fair is scheduled to take place from April 3 – 5, at its usual location of the Park Avenue Armory.

With two hundred of the trade’s finest international dealers present and offering top quality rare books, manuscripts, autograph, maps, finely bound volumes and ephemera, collectors can be sure to find strong material covering every specialty.

Prior to the fair opening, a benefit preview will be held on the Thursday April 2 for any collectors wishing to have first look at the collections.

Among the highlights is a First American Edition of The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux, several fine astronomical charts including a copperplate celestial planisphere dating back to c.1700, a first edition copy of George Gershwin’s Song-Book with a musical quotation of “Rhapsody in Blue” inscribed in Gershwin’s hand, and an important first edition of Aleister Crowley’s Moonchild annotated by the author with key parts that were edited out, and notes relating the story to real life events.

For additional information on the NY Fair 2009, including opening hours, ‘Discovery Day’ and further examples of excellent items, please visit:

www.sanfordsmith.com

In honour of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth (12 February 1809) and 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species (November 24 1859) the science and natural history dealer WP Watson will be presenting a special Darwin exhibit at the California International Antiquarian Bookfair, 13 - 15th February.

The exhibit will include first editions of many of Darwin's books, including:

- The Voyage of the Beagle volumes, which will be presented alongside a handmade scale model of the Beagle

- Presentation copies of the Origin, including the first copy to have reached Australia (in March 1860), with annotations by its owner, the Australian botanist William Woolls, and which made a circumnavigation of the globe (as did the Beagle) taking exactly 150 years to arrive back in London after its publication

-  A presentation copy of the 6th edition of the Origin, one of the few of any edition actually inscribed in Darwin's own hand.

-  A copy of the Expression of the Emotions, likewise inscribed.

There will also be Darwin letters, portraits, and a photograph portrait of Darwin taken by Julia Margaret Cameron.

http://www.polybiblio.com/watbooks/

http://www.sfbookfair.com/

“You’re better off buying old books than shares in a bank!” - Dutch antiques dealer Laurens Hesselink.

The ‘Credit Crunch’ crisis, while certainly affecting many peoples’ mental health, wallets, and employment status, did not appear to affect sales at the recent Frankfurt Book Fair. Despite the growing international financial crisis, and the UK now facing an economic recession, rare books are still fetching a high price as collectors see them as a safe place to invest their money.

Elvira Tasbach a book dealer from Berlin said that: “While highly-priced books are likely to remain a safe haven for collectors who can afford it more modest collectors might take a hit. The most expensive works, those that are worth more than €5,000 or €10,000, always sell and their price always rises”.

But, according to Tasbach, the lower end of antique book sales will feel the impact of the economic crisis: “In the low to medium prices, up to €2,000 per book, sales are decreasing. The traditional clientele for these books is dying. Not too long ago, every university professor had to have a beautiful library full of old books. This is not longer the case,” she said.



Guiseppina Biggio, a Turin-based antiques dealer for less expensive rare books, is struggling to rejuvenate her business in a changing market. “The period is not easy," said Biggio, who sells material priced between the value of €200 to €2,000. “I am especially trying to develop Internet sales,” she said. 



However most dealers argue that it is precisely the Internet that is causing the ‘real crisis’ by bringing the price of books down. According to many dealers the Internet has made old books easier to find, and therefore less expensive. Before, when an enthusiast found a book that interested them, they bought it from the dealer immediately. Now they take the details home to look for a better offer online.