The 60th Annual New York International Antiquarian Book Fair March 5-8, 2020

- by Bruce E. McKinney

The New York Antiquarian Book Fair returns to New York March 5-8, 2020.  This is, year in and year out, the most significant rare book fair in America and, many would suggest, the most important in the world.  It will be held again this year at the New York Armory on Park Avenue between 66th and 67th.  Collectors are advised, if travelling some distance, to make plans early.

 

This year 211 dealers from across America and around the world will exhibit. Long established, the fair this year celebrates its 60th anniversary and, as in past years, is fully subscribed.  In total there are 169 booths of which 42 are shared.  Donald Heald, show chairman, indicated that confidence among exhibitors is high.

 

The show begins on Thursday afternoon, March 5th,  at 5:00 pm with an opening night cocktail party.  In past years many buyers have acquired important examples on opening night.  The largest crowds though will come through on Saturday.

 

In recent years the show’s organizers have emphasized increasing attendance and the hope this year is for about 9,000 visitors and guests to come through the doors over its 4 day run.  It is a spectacular opportunity to buy and sell.  And it is something more; a subtle defense of the crucial role dealers play in the building and redistribution of major collections.  To see this simply ask to see copies with ownership histories.  Great books from exceptional collections are worth more and bring more and when returning to the marketplace are highly prized.

 

Over the past two decades dealers have been closing shops while new and established auction houses have been increasing their roles.  Net-net, at this show, whether you are a buyer or browser, dealers participating here are in effect acknowledging their relationship to the field is changing but their significance continues to be paramount.  I encourage you, as I do, to believe it.  Great collections, without the perspective of great dealers, are difficult to build.

 

So you thought it was just a show and in fact it is so much more.  That’s why you are going to go.

 

There are also collateral events.  The only one announced so far is Discovery Day on Sunday, March 8th.  On the show’s website it says “Bring up to 5 treasures to be evaluated by our experts”.

 

There are also expected to be some lectures during the show but as of 1/25/20 no specifics are available.  Closer to the show dates more information will be posted.

 

 

Ticket Prices

 

Preview Pass $60 including 1 daily re-admission

Daily Admission $25

Students $10 [with valid ID]

Run of Show $45

 

 

Such shows continue to be welcome respites from the steady din of auctions counting down the hours and minutes until important material is offered and sold around the world.

 

Here is a list of this year’s exhibitors and their booth numbers:

 

D33

Christof Groessl, Abeceda Antiquariat

Germany

 

A13

Alexandre Antique Prints, Maps, & Books

Canada

 

B23

Adam Andrusier Autographs

United Kingdom

 

D28

Librería De Antaño LLC

Argentina

 

E24

Appledore Books

United States

 

A24

James Arsenault & Company

United States

 

C12

Detlev Auvermann Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

E22

Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc.

United States

 

B24

Livres Anciens Ariane Adeline

France

 

A18

Charles Agvent

United States

 

B25

Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints

United States

 

C31

Aquila Books

Canada

 

B28

Libraires Associés

France

 

A15

Athena Rare Books

United States

 

 

B4

Pablo Butcher

United Kingdom

 

D5

B & B Rare Books

United States

 

D12

Lorne Bair Rare Books

United States

 

E12

Antiquariat Michael Banzhaf

Germany

 

B15

Librería Bardón

Spain

 

B10

Bartleby's Books

United States

 

A29

BAS BOOKS Ltd. (London)

United Kingdom

 

D23

Battledore Ltd

United States

 

E19

Bauman Rare Books

United States

 

C33

Simon Beattie Ltd

United Kingdom

 

E18

Roland Belgrave Vintage Photography

United Kingdom

 

A34

Antiquariat Reinhold Berg eK

Germany

 

D26

David Bergman

United States

 

D6

Jeff Bergman Books

United States

 

E10

Bernett Penka Rare Books

United States

 

C21

Between The Covers Rare Books, Inc.

United States

 

C19

Biblioctopus

United States

 

C27

Bibliopathos srl

Italy

 

B2

Blackwell's Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

B6

Librairie Blaizot

France

 

B18

The Bookpress

United States

 

E20

Books of Wonder

United States

 

A22

Bookvica / Globus Books

United States

 

D19

Alessandro Borgato Rare Books

Italy

 

B8

Libreria Antiquaria Borromini

Italy

 

A26

Thomas G. Boss Fine Books

United States

 

A24

Boston Rare Maps

United States

 

E28

Antiquariat Botanicum

United States

 

A25

Bow Windows Bookshop

United Kingdom

 

C25

Ian Brabner, Rare Americana

United States

 

C7

Marilyn Braiterman

United States

 

E14

David Brass Rare Books Inc

United States

 

B10

The Brick Row Book Shop

United States

 

B29

Bromer Booksellers, Inc

United States

 

E26

Buddenbrooks, Inc.

United States

 

D33

Kagerou Bunko

Japan

 

D25

Burgverlag Rare Books

Austria

 

C29

Leo Cadogan Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

D11

Caroliniana

United States

 

E9

Brian Cassidy, Bookseller

United States

 

D17

Rodolphe Chamonal

France

 

C29

Deborah Coltham Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

A32

Libreria Comellas

Spain

 

D29

Dean Cooke Rare Books Ltd

United Kingdom

 

D2

Librairie Pierre Coumans

Belgium

 

C33

Justin Croft Antiquarian Books Limited

United Kingdom

 

A10

Daniel Crouch Rare Books

United States

 

E3

James Cummins Bookseller

United States

 

D24

Antiquariaat De Roo

Netherlands

 

D22

De Simone Company Booksellers

United States

 

E31

Derringer Books

United States

 

D3

DeWolfe & Wood

United States

 

D10

Division Leap

United States

 

C30

Charlotte Du Rietz Rare Books

Sweden

 

B19

Eclectibles

United States

 

A12

Enchanted Books

United States

 

A20

Les Enluminures

United States

 

A35

Librairie L'Exemplaire

Switzerland

 

B31

Michael Fagan Fine Art + Rare Book

United States

 

C13

Librairie Faustroll

France

 

D27

Librairie le Feu Follet- Edition Originale.com

France

 

C8

Dr. A. Fluehmann GmbH

Switzerland

 

A22

Foldvaribooks

Hungary

 

C2

Librairie Benoit Forgeot

France

 

C17

Antiquariaat FORUM

Netherlands

 

B30

Librairie Fourcade

France

 

A23

Arthur Fournier Fine & Rare

United States

 

B21

Robert Frew Ltd.

United Kingdom

 

A7

Elena Gallego Rare Books LLC

United States

 

A44

Geographicus Rare Antique Maps

United States

 

A36

Gilann Books

United States

 

B3

Franklin Gilliam :: Rare Books

United States

 

C5

Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books

United States

 

A33

James Gray

United States

 

B7

Peter Grogan

United Kingdom

 

 

C9

Amanda Hall Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

E29

Harper's Books

United States

 

B27

Adrian Harrington Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

E17

Peter Harrington

United Kingdom

 

C1

Donald Heald Rare Books

United States

 

A16

Heartwood Books and Art

United States

 

A19

Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller Inc.

United States

 

E33

Jeff Hirsch Books

United States

 

C33

Honey & Wax Booksellers

United States

 

C17

Hordern House

Australia

 

D1

HS Rare Books

Argentina

 

A35

Illibrairie

Switzerland

 

A9

Imperial Fine Books Inc.

United States

 

B1

INLIBRIS

Austria

 

 

C5

James S. Jaffe Rare Books LLC

United States

 

E37

Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers

United Kingdom

 

C23

Johanson Rare Books

United States

 

A3

Jonkers Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

 

D3

Kaaterskill Books

United States

 

E8

Kainbacher Rare Books

Austria

 

A5

The Kelmscott Bookshop

United States

 

C3

Ben Kinmont, Bookseller

United States

 

D18

Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

United States

 

A5

John W. Knott Jr. Bookseller

United States

 

E8

Knuf Rare Books

France

 

C15

KOEGUI Rare Books

France

 

D8

Konstantinopel Rare & Fine Books

Netherlands

 

B1

Kotte Autographs

Germany

 

D19

Daniela Kromp Rare and Unique Books

Germany

 

E13

Kubik Fine Books Ltd.

United States

 

E12

Antiquariat Michael Kühn

Germany

 

E30

Michael Laird Rare Books

United States

 

A2

Librairie Lardanchet

France

 

C11

Hugues de Latude

France

 

C25

The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.

United States

 

B3

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books LLC.

United States

 

E6

JF Letenneur Livres Rares

France

 

A8

Liber Antiquus, Early Books & Manuscripts

United States

 

E4

Locus Solus Rare Books

United States

 

E4

Ken Lopez Bookseller

United States

 

A31

Lucius Books

United Kingdom

 

A27

Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc.

United States

 

E9

Lux Mentis, Booksellers

United States

 

C10

Herman H.J. Lynge & Son

Denmark

 

B11

Musinsky Rare Books, Inc.

United States

 

C26

George S. MacManus Co.

United States

 

A17

Maggs Bros, Ltd.

United Kingdom

 

E39

Nicolas Malais

France

 

D11

Kenneth Mallory

United States

 

E21

Manhattan Rare Book Company

United States

 

C24

Jeffrey H. Marks Rare Books

United States

 

B13

Bruce Marshall Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

D15

Martayan Lan

United States

 

E2

Mayfair Rare Books and Manuscripts Ltd

United Kingdom

 

E15

MC RARE BOOKS B.V.

Netherlands

 

B4

McBride Rare Books

United States

 

C4

Bruce McKittrick Rare Books

United States

 

E2

Meda Riquier Rare Books, Ltd

United Kingdom

 

E11

Libreria Antiquaria Mediolanum

Italy

 

E39

Modern First Editions Ltd

United Kingdom

 

A6

Paris Rare Books

France

 

C20

Frederik Muller Rare Books

Netherlands

 

 

A38

Neatline Antique Maps

United States

 

D13

Antiquariat Manfred Nosbüsch

Germany

 

B22

Oak Knoll Books

United States

 

 

E35

Ohya-shobo

 

D4

Old Editions Bookshop and Gallery

United States

 

 

A21

Antiquariat Dasa Pahor

Germany

B5

Palinurus Antiquarian Books

United States

 

C13

Librairie Le Pas Sage

France

 

B33

Philobiblon Srl

Italy

 

B18

Pickering & Chatto

United Kingdom

 

A1

Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books & Manuscripts

United States

 

E11

Il Polifilo

Italy

 

B33

Libreria Antiquaria Pregliasco

Italy

 

 

A27

Productive Arts

United States

 

C22

Jean Baptiste de Proyart

France

 

D30

Pryor-Johnson Rare Books

United States

 

E18

PY Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

 

C6

Bernard Quaritch, Ltd.

United Kingdom

 

 

Max Rambod

 

E1

Raptis Rare Books

United States

 

B17

William Reese Company

United States

 

A42

Reg. & Philip Remington

United Kingdom

 

D22

L & T Respess Books

United States

 

D20

Walter Reuben, Inc

United States

 

E27

Royal Books

United States

 

A6

Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc

United States

 

C18

Rulon-Miller Books

United States

 

D2

Russell Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

D7

Sanctuary Books

United States

 

D21

Justin G. Schiller, Ltd.

United States

 

E7

Sophie Schneideman Rare Books

United Kingdom

 

A4

Schubertiade

United States

 

B23

Schulson Autographs

United States

 

C9

Susanne Schulz-Falster

United Kingdom

 

A18

Second Story Books

United States

 

B26

Shapero Rare Books LTD

United Kingdom

 

E5

Sims Reed Ltd.

United Kingdom

 

C28

Sokol Books Ltd

United Kingdom

 

E15

Giuseppe Solmi Studio Bibliografico

Italy

 

E23

Sophia Rare Books

Denmark

 

B12

Henry Sotheran Ltd

United Kingdom

 

B15

Librairie Camille Sourget

France

 

E7

Benjamin Spademan

United Kingdom

 

D9

James Steerman, S.R.O

Czech Republic

 

D25

Michael Steinbach, Rare Books

Austria

 

B7

Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc.

United States

 

A14

Symonds Rare Books Ltd

United Kingdom

 

 

E22

Tamino Autographs

United States

 

D31

Triolet Rare Books

United States

 

 

A4

University Archives

United States

 

A2

Ursus Books Ltd

United States

 

 

C15

WALDEN Rare Books

France

 

B9

W P Watson Antiquarian Books

United Kingdom

 

D8

Adam Weinberger Books

United States

 

A11

White Fox Rare Books and Antiques

United States

 

E25

Whitmore Rare Books, Inc

United States

 

B20

John Windle

United States

 

 

A12

Yesterday's Gallery

United States

 

A40

Roy Young Bookseller, Inc.

United States