Enjoy this selection of preview items that our members will be exhibiting at the upcoming 42nd annual Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair. We'll be adding items to this page all week, so check back daily for more extremely rare and beautirful items! Fantaisie-Fantasia-Fantasie-Fancy- Scenes for Ladies of Leisure to Construct c1840. A large folio with die-cut opening in cover to create a "picture frame". It includes 2 plates and an array of cutout hand finished engraved images of women, children and accessories. The two 12" x 9 ½” plates have numerous slits at the base Each of the images has a tab at the base. The individual women are placed in the incisions or slits creating elegant scenes from the serene to the severe. Includes two pattern sheets with eight (8) different scenes. Endless scenes can be created beyond the scenes shown. Twenty-four (24) images and accessories. Offered by Eclectibles (Booth 204). CROZE, Austin de. . La Lumière Magique. Paris, 1920. 4to. 92pp. 37pp. text and illustrations, distributed over 92pp. overall. Various papers and media utilized running the gamut from heavy card to glassine via what appears to be brown wrapping paper and other diverse elements. Bound in later full burnt yellow morocco gilt, black title labels to spine, embellished with pentagrams to both boards. A beautiful volume, strong, clean and clearly well looked after. Original cover and spine bound in. Filled with numerous pen, ink and watercolours designs with the unpu... [more Boston Book Fair: Featured Items]

It's back! The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to the Hynes Convention Center in Boston's beautiful Back Bay for its 42nd year, November 16-18, 2018. Special events at this year's event include documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman on the making of Ex Libris: The New York Public Library; political guru Michael Goldman on 1968: The Year of the Century; Sumio Yamazaki from the Kyoto Book Artists Society in discussion with Charles Vilnis on Japanese art books; Editor Peter K. Steinberg on Sylvia Plath; and the 17th annual Ticknor Society Roundtable panel discussion on starting a collection. One of the oldest and most respected antiquarian book shows in the country, the Boston Book Fair offers a top selection of items available on the international literary market. Attendees have the unique chance to get a close look at rare and historic museum-quality items, offered by some of the most prestigious participants in the trade. Whether just browsing or buying, the Fair offers something for every taste and budget—books on art, politics, travel, gastronomy, and science to sport, natural history, literature, music, and children's books—all appealing to a range of bibliophiles and browsers. TICKETS Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday! Friday night's exclusive Opening Night event is ticketed ($20). HOURS Friday, November 16, 5:00-9:00pm Saturday, November 17, 12:00-7:00pm Sunday, November 18, 12:00-5:00pm Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston,... [more Boston Book Fair 2018]

On March 11th, the ABAA Women's Initiative hosted a panel discussion on Collecting and Women during the New York Antiquarian Book Fair at the Park Avenue Armory. Elizabeth Denlinger, Sarah Gordon, and Molly Schwartzburg discussed topics relating to representations of women in collections, women as collectors, and women-focused institutions as Nina Musinsky moderated. More than 100 men and women booksellers, librarians, and enthusiasts attended. If you missed it, we have a recording below. Since 2016, we have held networking receptions for women in conjunction with book fairs, and honored Carol Sandberg — a longtime bookseller who has championed women in the trade. This panel is our first foray into programming and we are thrilled to have so many of you here. Please do leave your business cards or add your name to our mailing list so we can keep you informed about events and ideas. We would like to thank and acknowledge the people who have worked on this project: Claudia Strauss-Schulson — the Initiative's chairwoman — Heather O'Donnell, Rebecca Romney, Kim Schwenk, Kait Manning, Cokie Anderson, Susan Hirsch, Laurelle Swan, Joyce Kosofsky, and Mary Gilliam. We would also like to thank Jennifer Johnson and Sunday Steinkirchener for their help in organizing events. We also want to recognize the many people who have shared their stories, put forth ideas, and voiced support publically and privately for this important work. Subscribe below to receive alerts and information ab... [more Women’s Initiative Hosts Panel on Collecting and Women]

One late change to the schedule for this weekend's Boston Book Fair is that guest bookbinder Mark Cockram is unable to travel due to illness, and has been replaced at short notice by Peter Geraty. Geraty is a respected bookbinder and teacher, who focuses on restoration, fine bindings, and other creative services for book artists. He opened his own bindery in 1984, and later changed its name to Praxis Bookbindery to reflect his focus on craftsmanship. “The word praxis best defines my approach to bookbinding. It is the practice or exercise of a skill. For me, it is the doing again and again always trying to do it better. It is what drives me and along with appreciation of the finished book, it is the pleasure I receive from the craft.”—Peter Geraty You can find examples of his work here and here... Event: Bookbinding with Peter Geraty Sunday, November 12, 1:00pm As owner of Praxis Bookbindery, Peter Geraty has focused on conservation, fine binding and binding of editions and presentation materials for publishers and artists. Peter is intrigued by the challenge of combining design, structure, and materials to present text or art. Exhibition Binding by Peter Geraty Armstrong, James and Ben Mitchell. County Survey. Kalamazoo, Mich.: Rarach Press, 1989. Signed Limited Edition. One of 38 copies. Poems and essays by James Armstrong and Ben Mitchell, 16 etchings by Ladislav R. Hanka, typography by Amy Bollinger. This copy beautifully bound by Peter Geraty. One of two copies boun... [more Peter Geraty Added to Boston Book Fair Schedule]

Many ABAA members will be exhibiting at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair November 10-12, 2017. Here are some of the published catalogs of items our members will be taking to the fair... F.A. Bernett Booth 201 James Cummins Bookseller Booth 120 Eclectibles Booth 303 Les Enluminures Booth 114 Donald A. Heald Booth 213 Lux Mentis Booksellers Booth 518 Oak Knoll Books Booth 505 B & L Rootenberg Rare Books Booth 409 Abby Schoolman Books Booth 225 John Windle, Bookseller Booth 413 This list will be updated as new catalogs are announced. For more information about the 2017 Boston Book Fair visit http://bostonbookfair.com/ SEELEY BROTHERS. MANUFACTURERS OF AVERILL PAINT, READY FOR USE New York: Seeley Brothers, 1886. Folio. Publishers blind-stamped cloth. Lithographic title leaf, (8) pages, 20 chromolithographic plates, each with descriptive text facing, (3) folios of advertisements, one with paint samples, which includes 2 chromolithographic plates with 1 incorporating 12 flat pastel paint samples. First edition. . Rare paint trade catalogue with only one copy of the 1886 edition and two copies of the 1889 edition listed on OCLC. "In 1875, the architect Elisha Charles Hussey boarded a transcontinental train to survey the state of American architecture. The resulting book, Home Building...from New York to San Francisco, (N.Y., 1876), contained 42 plates. A decade later Seeley Bros. Paint Co. recycled several of Hussey's designs as full-color lithographs. These plates ar... [more Boston Book Fair Catalogs 2017]

We asked ABAA members to let us know which items they were particulaly excited about bringing to the upcoming Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair and they responded with a breath-taking selection of truly spectacular association copies, signed books, art, and idiosyncratic ephemera from all corners of the globe. You'll find the items below in the booths of Boston's Hynes Convention Center begining November 10. Leaves From a Mislaid Album Signed, limited edition of Edward Gorey's Leaves From a Mislaid Album, published by Gotham Book Mart in 1972. The publication is a portfolio of prints with no set order in which they should be viewed; images printed for Leaves consist of macabre character portraits which invite the viewer to invent stories based on the attitude and body language of the subject. Offered by Brattle Book Shop. Booth #215 Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Edition de luxe, limited to 460 copies, signed by Rackham, printed in London in 1935. Surely the best illustrated edition of Poe's masterpiece ever published. Unusually dark subject matter for Rackham, he confessed to his model Marita Ross “that his pictures were now so horrible that he was beginning to frighten himself!” Offered by John Windle, Bookseller. Booth #413 TWENTY-SIX POEMS, ONE OF TEN COPIES PRINTED ON JAPAN VELLUM, WITH ORIGINAL PEN-AND-INK DRAWINGS BY DYLAN AND CAITLIN THOMAS THOMAS, Dylan. Twenty-Six Poems. 4to, original quarter vellum & ... [more 21 Items for the Boston Book Fair]

The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to the Hynes Convention Center for its 41st year, November 10-12, 2017. One of the largest rare book fairs in the country, the 2017 Boston Book Fair will host more than 120 dealers from Argentina, Australia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Russia, as well as from all over the United States, including many ABAA members! Special events at this year's Fair include a bookbinding demonstration by British book artist Mark Cockram; Ricky Jay, the world's greatest sleight-of-hand artist discussing Magic, Cheaters & Remarkable Characters; the largest exhibition on American icon Henry David Thoreau ever mounted will be the subject of two talks by curators Christine Nelson (The Morgan Library & Museum) and David Wood (The Concord Museum) — the exhibition, "This Ever New Self," is currently on view at the Concord Museum in Concord MA (through January 21) and was on view at the Morgan this past summer; as well as the 16th annual Ticknor Society Roundtable discussion. Where: Hynes Convention Center 900 Boylston Street Boston, MA When: Friday, November 10 5:00-9:00pm Opening Night Tickets: $20.00 Saturday, November 11 12:00-7:00pm Free Admission Sunday, November 12 12:00-5:00pm Free Admission Highlights! Among the highlighted items for sale at this year's fair will be the David Powers Collection of John F. Kennedy speeches and manuscripts, spanning the statesman's political career from his first race in 1946... [more 41st Boston Book Fair]

The last major antiquarian book fair of 2016 is almost upon us. The center of the rare book world moves to Boston, MA for three days at the end of October for the 40th annual Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair. Once again, the Hynes Convention Center hosts more than 120 rare book dealers from around the world. The event is one of the oldest and most-respected antiquarian book shows in the country, and this year celebrates its 40th Anniversary. The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair is sponsored by the New England Chapter of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America. Dates Friday 28th – 5:00-9:00 PM Saturday 29th – Noon-7:00 PM Sunday 30th – Noon-5:00 PM Free Admission Over the Weekend! As the Boston Book Fair is celebrating its 40th year, they are offering free admission for all on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30. Tickets for Friday night's exclusive preview event are just $20! Tickets will be sold online at www.bostonbookfair.com and at the box office during Friday evening show hours. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit the Boston Public Library and the American Antiquarian Society. In addition to the thousands of unique and rarely seen items offered for sale by the exhibiting dealers, there are a number of special events and exhibits taking place over the weekend. Collecting the Boston Music Scene: 1976-2016 All Weekend If you're a music fan, you won't want to miss David Bieber extensive archive of rock posters, albums, and... [more 2016 Boston Book Fair]

ABAA members will be bringing their best items to the 56th annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair during the second week of April, 2016. Below, we have a few highlights from our members (in no particular order): exceedingly rare books, unique records, and one-of-a-kind ephemera to give a brief flavor of the treasures that await discovery in New York. Members submitted so many featured items that we've had to split the list into two parts. Tune in next week for another sneak-peak at items you'll find at this year's New York Antiquarian Book Fair. (For more details on the book fair, click here...) BODMER, Karl (1809-1893, illustrator) -- Prince Maximilian zu WIED-NEUWIED (1782-1867). Voyage dans l'Intérieur de l'Amérique du Nord execute pendant les années 1832, 1833 et 1834. Paris: Chez Arthus Bertrand, 1840-1843. 4 volumes (text: 3 volumes, 8vo (9 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches); atlas: 1 oblong folio (17 x 23 1/2 inches)). French text: Half-titles, 1 lithographic plan, 31 plates of wood-engraved vignettes, 6 wood-engraved illustrations, large engraved folding map. Atlas: 81 engraved and aquatint plates (48 large aquatint tableau plates (19 hand coloured), 33 vignette plates on full folio sheets (7 hand coloured), all after Bodmer. The greatest illustrated American travel narrative and the most important depiction of American Indians in the frontier era: a very rare issue with the best plates hand-coloured. (Offered by Donald A. Heald Rare Books) KNAUSGÅRD, Karl Ove. Min Kamp. Bok 1. O... [more Featured Items: New York Book Fair (Part 1)]

The pinnacle of rare book fairs in the US is the annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair, which takes place from April 7-10 at the Park Avenue Armory. Collectors can browse the booths of over 200 rare book dealers from around the world and all across the United States, offering a vast selection of rare books, maps, manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts, and ephemera. This book fair is officially sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and our parent organization the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, which means that collectors can be confident in the authenticity of the items available for purchase. (Scroll down for a few examples of the items that will be available this year.) Hours Preview: Thursday, April 7, 5-9pm Fair: Friday, April 8, noon-8pm Saturday, April 9, noon-7pm Sunday, April 10, noon-5pm Discovery Day Sunday, April 10, 1pm-3pm Location Park Avenue Armory 643 Park Avenue, New York City Tickets Tickets are available on the door or through Eventbrite… Preview Pass: $50 (includes one daily re-admission) Daily Admission: $25 Students: $10 Run of show: $40 More information: http://www.nyantiquarianbookfair.com/ A few of the items ABAA members will be exhibiting at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair... An Astounding Run of all the Holmes and Watson Stories in the Strand Magazines (London and NY, 1891–1927). 75 vols. 1st editions. The 1st appearances anywhere, in the original monthly parts, of the Adventures, Memoirs, Hound (NY ... [more Get Ready for the New York Book Fair]