The 2018 New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is behind us, and the reviews have been very positive. Several magazines ran previews focusing on dealer's highlights in the weeks before the fair, and many carried enthusiastic reports after the fact. Here are a few highlights of the media coverage for the fair:
- The Paris Review focused on some "unexpected highlights" from the fair... (But, if they didn't expect to find rare books at the fair, just what were they expecting?)
- ABAA-member Jonathan A. Hill was interviewed by Bloomberg (audio)...
- Barron's (naturally) focused on the most-expensive item exhibited at the fair: "Rare Book By Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus Being Sold for $2M"
- Atlas Obscura covered the other end of the spectrum, interviewing ABAA-member Sunday Steinkirchner (B&B Rare Books) about appraising books during "Discovery Day": "How a Rare Book Appraiser Passes Judgment in 30 Seconds or Less"
- Hyperallergic: Culinary Delights and Other Fine Finds at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair
New York was not the only place that rare books were in the news, on the West Coast, the recent California International Antiquarian Book Fair and the ILAB Congress have also been making headlines.
- ilab.org: "Looking back at the 43rd ILAB Congress"
- Fine Books & Collections: "Frankstein Fanfare at the CA Antiquarian Book Fair"
- Video: Antiquariat Botanicum at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair
Not all the recent news of rare books was good, however, with news breaking of a huge theft of rare books from the Carnegie Library in Pittsburg, and the closing of a landmark bookstore in Los Angeles.
- ABAA-member Michael Vinson and executive-director Susan Benne are quoted in the The Pittsburg Post-Gazette's reporting: "Who stole 314 items from the Carnegie Library rare books room?"
- ABAA-member Caravan Book Store closed their physical store in Los Angeles, prompting this thoughtful piece in the L.A. Times: L.A. Times: Requiem for a Bookstore: Caravan Books Writes Its Final Passage (Note, Caravan Book Store will continue to do business as a closed shop.)
From other parts of the country came positive reports of booksellers adapting to the changing face of retail and supporting women in bookselling and collecting.
- The 70-year history of the ILAB is the subjecy of a new book from Oak Knoll Press, the publishing arm of ABAA-member Oak Knoll Books: Oak Knoll Press publishes "ILAB Historical Index" - Celebrating 70 Years of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers
- Members Wonder Book and Second Story Books were the subject of a recent story on how some rare booksellers are embracing the internet...
- Heather O'Donnell and Rebecca Romney of ABAA-member Honey & Wax Books were interviewed about women in antiquarian bookselling for ilab.org...
- And finally, Colleen Barrett of Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts was featured in Fine Books & Collections' recurring series, Fine Young Booksellers...