The 56th California International Antiquarian Book Fair (Feb. 9-11, 2024) will feature several presentations from leading experts from around the Golden State. Saturday, February 10, 2024 1:00pm Liberation Through Duplication: Press Power of the Long 1960s Lincoln Cushing | Independent archivist and historian, Docs Populi | Instructor, University of California, Berkeley This presentation explores ... [more]

The California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to San Francisco February 9-11. Widely recognized as one of the world's largest exhibitions of antiquarian books for sale, more than 100 exhibitors from around the world will present rare books, maps, illustrations, historical documents, and ephemera on a vast array of subjects and genres. Here is a small preview of the material exhibitors... [more]

Renowned chef, restaurateur, and pioneer of California cuisine, Alice Waters will be a guest at the California International Antiquarian Book Fair on Saturday, February 10, where she will appear at California bookseller Ben Kinmont's booth (#217) for a book signing at 3pm. The event is a fundraiser for The Edible Schoolyard, a project to transform the food experience that Waters began in a public ... [more]

The 56th California International Antiquarian Book Fair is returning to San Francisco next month. The fair, sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), takes place February 9-11, 2024, at Pier 27 (cruise ship terminal). Widely recognized as one of the world's largest exhibitions of antiquarian books for sale, more than 100 exhibitors from around the world will present ... [more]

In partnership with the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and the GLBT Historical Society Museum and Archives, renowned queer historian and book dealer Gerard Koskovich joins acclaimed archivist and collector Lisbet Tellefsen to discuss the importance of rare and historic LGBTQ+ archives, books, periodicals, posters and ephemera. They'll share materials from their personal hol... [more]

The California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to San Francisco in 2024! The fair will take place February 9-11 at Pier 27, a new venue located on the Embarcadero between Fisherman's Wharf and the Ferry Building. The building is well-appointed, with remarkable views of the San Francisco Bay and downtown San Francisco. There is easy access for visitors, ample parking, and nearby public ... [more]

ABAA members provide a few pointers for beginning collectors who might be considering attending an antiquarian book fair for the first time. Members Lorne Bair, Michael Hackenberg, and John Windle provide some advice gleaned from decades of book fair attendance. Ask Questions/Develop Relationships with the Dealers Veteran bookseller John Windle notes that "a good, close, trusting connection to a d... [more]

From February 10–12, 2023, thousands of book lovers, rare-book dealers, and scholars will converge at the Pasadena Convention Center for the 55th California International Antiquarian Book Fair. Recognized as one of the world's largest and most pre-eminent exhibitions of antiquarian books, the California Book Fair gives visitors a chance to see, learn about and purchase the finest in rare and val... [more]

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the 54th California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to the Bay Area on Friday, February 11! This in-person book fair will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center in Oakland, California, and will feature rare books and related treasures from both US and international booksellers. To coincide with the in-person event, the ABAA Virtual Book Fair: Cali... [more]

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the 54th California International Antiquarian Book Fair will return to the Bay Area on Friday, February 11 through Sunday, February 13, 2022. The event will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center and will feature rare books and related treasures from both US and international booksellers. To coincide with the in-person event, the ABAA Virtual Book Fair: Calif... [more]

The CA Book Fair is back! Join your fellow dealers and collectors for an in-person book fair February 11-13, 2022 at the Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland, CA. For those unable to travel, there will be a simultaneous virtual book fair at abaa.org/vbf. The Virtual Book Fair: California Edition will begin at 9am PST on February 12, 2022 and doors will remain open until 5pm PST on February 14, 20... [more]

Imagine walking through the California International Antiquarian Book Fair with some of the foremost experts in a collecting field, listening as they discuss the significance of items offered for sale. Now, this will be possible when you join one of the free virtual tours happening live during the California Virtual Book Fair, March 4-6. Tours will center around three subjects: Californiana, Cooke... [more]

A further addition to our lineup of special events during the California Virtual Book Fair is a special panel on horology, timepieces, and the history of watchmaking with experts in the field. Thursday, March 4 at 11 am PST/2 pm EST. A Matter of Time -- in partnership with Vacheron Constantin Join knowledgeable panelists as they explore topics ranging from horology, timepieces, the artistry and hi... [more]

It was February of 2013. I walked into the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California, following the signs to the “Codex Book Fair and Symposium”… I had just handed in my resignation notice to my then-current employer, where I was selling software – and hating every moment of it. I had made the decision to make a career leap. A rather HUGE career leap – from selling software to being a bo... [more]

When Doug Leen was a young park ranger working at Grand Teton National Park, he was cleaning up a barn when stumbled across a dusty old poster that caught his eye. It was a poster promoting the Park that—as he later learned—had been created in the 1930s as part of the Federal Art Project, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) program designed to provide work to artists in a time of economic ha... [more]

Bibliophiles everywhere are invited to join the hunt for rare books and all manner of fine works on paper March 4-6 during the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America's California Virtual Book Fair. Exhibitors from 14 countries will present a carefully curated collection of more than 4000 books, maps, manuscripts, photographs, and rare historical artifacts. “The ABAA's California Interna... [more]

The public programs at the upcoming California Virtual Book Fair have been announced. The events are free, but pre-registration is required. Thursday, March 4 2:00 PM EST: A Matter of Time Join knowledgeable panelists as they explore topics ranging from horology, timepieces, the artistry and history of watchmaking, rare books and archival materials. In partnership with Vacheron Constantin. Jonatha... [more]

The 2021 winner of the California Young Book Collector's Prize is Jessica Camille Jordan of Palo Alto, California. Her collection, “Women in Subscription Bookselling” explores the role of women book agents, who went door-to-door selling books to people in their homes, rather than in a bookstore. A selection of Jordan's collection will be displayed virtually in conjunction with the California A... [more]

The 2020 winner of the prize is Nolin Deloison Baum of Oakland, California. His collection of culinary high spots is centered around Georges Auguste Escoffier. “I have collected books since I learned to read. After getting my BA, I went to culinary school in Paris and eventually became a professional cook. Fluent in French, it was natural that I also study, and, of course, collect, the historica... [more]

Thousands of book lovers, booksellers, and scholars will converge in Southern California for the 53rd California International Antiquarian Book Fair over the weekend of February 7-9, 2020. One of the nation's largest exhibitions and sales of rare books, the 2020 California Book Fair celebrates the 100th anniversary of Women's Suffrage with a special exhibit -- Votes for Women -- documenting women'... [more]

The 53rd California International Antiquarian Book Fair takes place in Pasadena, California over the weekend of February 7-9, 2020. Here's is a little taste of the rare books and items of print ephemera ABAA members will be exhibiting at this year's Fair! Bradbury, Ray. The Martian Chronicles. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1950. First edition. 222pp. Octavo. Green cloth boards. Light sunning and wea... [more]

In commemoration of the centennial of the 19th Amendment, the 53rd California International Antiquarian Book Fair, February 7-9, 2020 in Pasadena, will feature a special exhibit and panel discussions on the women's suffrage movement. This celebration will highlight the contributions of successive generations of women, from protofeminists like Mary Wollstonecraft, to the abolitionists and the tempe... [more]

Nearly a century ago, women in the United States earned the right to vote. The road to universal suffrage was long and filled with many obstacles and more than a few setbacks, but through the resiliency and perseverance of the women who championed the cause of equal rights, this milestone was achieved. In celebration of the centennial anniversary, the 53rd California International Antiquarian Book... [more]

The 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to the Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland, California, over the weekend of February 8-10, 2019. Recognized as one of the world's largest and most prestigious exhibitions of antiquarian books, the 52nd California International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to Northern California, Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 10, 2019 ... [more]

The 2019 California International Antiquarian Book Fair takes place in Oakland, California February 8-10, 2019. Nearly 200 rare-book dealers from around the world will be bringing their most-outstanding items to surprise and delight book collectors. Some of the ABAA members attending preview their wares below... Harold Arlen. "The Wizard of Oz" Record Set - Inscribed by the Composer! 1939. 4-disc ... [more]

An announcement from the Northern California Chapter of the Antiquarian Bookseller's Association of America: Announcing the Winners of the inaugural California Young Book Collector's Prize. The quality of all of the applications made it extremely difficult to choose the winning candidates, and the committee would like to extend its sincere thanks to each and every applicant who took the time and e... [more]

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... [more]

On February 8th, at the Book Fair Exhibitor Reception in Pasadena, the ABAA Women's Initiative sponsored the first in a series of tributes to women booksellers who have left a lasting impression on the American trade. Our first honoree was Carol Sandberg, an accomplished career bookseller whose contributions extend beyond the great businesses she helped to build. Carol started bookselling in 1974,... [more]

Even if you cannot attend the 51st annual California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena this weekend (Feb. 9-11, 2018), you can still virtually peruse the booths of some ABAA members through these catalogs of the rare books and ephemera they will be exhibiting in Pasadena. Contact the dealer directly if something catches your eye! Athena Rare Books Booth 218 -- also presenting 50 book... [more]

Some 35 years ago, Charles Bukowski wrote, “Fante was my god”—and with those four words, he brought John Fante and his great books back out of near-obscurity. The quote is from the preface Bukowski wrote for the 1980 Black Sparrow Press reissue of Fante's 1939 novel Ask the Dust, his semi-autobiographical masterpiece of loneliness and Los Angeles, optimism and passion in the face of destitut... [more]