The Annual Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair Set for Nov. 14-16
- by Michael Stillman
The annual Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair returns to the Hynes Convention Center on November 14-16 this year. This ABAA sponsored show is likely the biggest such attraction on the east coast other than the spring fair the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America puts on in New York. The fair brings in not just sellers from New England and the Northeast, but all across the country and around the world. We note this year a dealer coming all the way from Moscow to display. It will be much easier for most Americans to meet these experts in Boston than traveling to their hometowns.
The fair hours are:
Friday Nov. 14: 5:00-9:00 pm.
Saturday Nov. 15: 12:00-7:00 pm.
Sunday Nov. 16: 12:00-5:00 pm.
You may purchase tickets for the entire run, including the Friday evening preview, or just for Saturday or Sunday for half the price. Tickets can be purchased on the fair's website (see link at the end of this article).
The main attraction, naturally enough, is the booksellers' displays, and the opportunity to meet and discuss your interests with some of the greatest experts in the field. However, the fair always provides additional events and programs for attendees who want to get more deeply into the resources available. Here are some events on tap for this year's fair.
Michael Volmer, Chief Curator of the Fruitlands Museum, this year celebrating its 100th anniversary, describes material in the transcendentalist manuscript collection. Saturday 12:30.
The Ticknor Society hosts a roundtable discussion on ephemera. Saturday 2:00.
A panel discussion on starting a collection is on the schedule. If you are considering beginning a collection, you should come to the fair for this. Additionally, “Discovery” exhibitors are ready to help you learn more about collecting and show more affordable logical items for those just starting out. Saturday 3:30.
Free expert appraisals will be provided for books, maps, and ephemera. Bring yours along to see if they're valuable. Sunday 1:00-3:00.
Peter Drummey of the Massachusetts Historical Society presents material related to Benjamin Franklin's early career in the newspaper field in Boston before he moved to Philadelphia.
To learn more about the Boston Book Fair, and purchase your tickets, click here now.
ALDE, Apr. 8: GUEVARA (ANTONIO DE). Histoire de Marc-Aurèle, Empereur Romain, vray miroir et horloge des Princes. Paris, Pierre et Galliot du Pré, frères, 1565. €3,000 to €4,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: HEURES DE LA VIERGE. Horæ in laudem beatissimæ virginis Mariæ ad usum Romanum. Paris, Charles L'Angelier, 1556. €4,000 to €5,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: MONTAIGNE (MICHEL DE). Les Essais. Édition nouvelle, trouvée après le deceds de l'autheur… Paris, Abel L'Angelier, 1595. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [ROJAS (FERNANDO DE)]. Celestina, tragicomedia di Calisto et Melibea, tradotta de lingua castigliana in italiano idioma… Venise, 1531. €2,000 to €3,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CAMÕES (LUÍS DE). Os Lusiadas. Lisbonne, Pedro Crasbeeck, 1613. €2,000 to €3,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CERVANTES (MIGUEL DE). El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Bruxelles, Roger Velpius & Huberto Antonio, 1611. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: LA FONTAINE (JEAN DE). Fables choisies, mises en vers. Paris, Denys Thierry et Claude Barbin, 1678-1694. €6,000 to €8,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: CERVANTES (MIGUEL DE). El Ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Madrid, Joaquin Ibarra, 1780. €3,000 to €4,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: DIDEROT (DENIS) ET JEAN LE ROND D'ALEMBERT. Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers. Paris, 1751-1765. €15,000 to €20,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [LIVRE TISSÉ]. LAMARTINE (Alphonse de). Les Laboureurs. Poème tiré de Jocelyn… Lyon, J. A. Henry, 1883. €8,000 to €10,000.
ALDE, Apr. 8: [LIVRE TISSÉ]. Livre de prières tissé d'après les enluminures des manuscrits du XIVe au XVIe siècle. Lyon, [A. Roux], 1886. €5,000 to €6,000.
