Boston “Shadow Fair” Has Come Full Circle and Reports Full House

Boston “Shadow Fair” Has Come Full Circle and Reports Full House

The annual Boston “shadow show”, now promoted by MW Book Fairs, has come full circle since its beginnings almost 30 years ago at the Pilgrim Garage just up the street from the current location at the Hilton Boston Back Bay at 40 Dalton Street. Long-time exhibitors in the Boston show scene such as Peter Stern, William Hutchison, Peter Luke and Richard Mori will be on the “shadow” floor again this year and can relate stories of the early days when portable toilets were brought into the Pilgram Garage and monthly parking tenants were removed from the basement for the show to proceed. This year’s fair is set for November 8 at the Hilton Boston Back Bay, with hours from 8 am to 4 pm. Dealer comfort is a top priority at the current Hilton venue, with well-appointed show space (including modern bathrooms), comfortable sleeping rooms, a great restaurant, breakfast buffet, and parking on-site, with the promoters offering a dealer breakfast first thing on the day of the show.

MW Book Fairs, a collaboration between Duane A. Stevens of Wiggins Fine Books ABAA and Richard Mori of Richard Mori Books, has registered 50 respected and experienced antiquarian book, ephemera and photo dealers for this year’s show that promises to be one of the most eclectic shows in years. While dealer retention from last year is high, Richard and Duane are pleased to welcome several new dealers, including: Pico Banerjee, who hails from Lewiston, Maine and was the winner of the "shadow fair" half-booth auctioned off at this year's CABS conference, with generous support also from Garrett Scott; Owl of Minerva will be joining us making the trip up from West New York, NJ; Jason Phillips (Phillips and Phillips) will be coming down from Rochester, NH; Buzz Bookstore is coming from Maryland; the Joe Fay Company from Connecticut; Laureate Fine Books from Vermont and winners of a partial booth scholarship as 2025 CABS graduates; Second Wind Books from New Haven, CT; and Peter Forman of Custodians of History from Plymouth, MA and several others have signed on. MW Book Fairs wishes to welcome these dealers who will bring an eclectic range of fresh material and add to the diversity of the fair.

At this year’s fair MW Book Fairs will again host the ABAA’s Diversity Initiative and welcome two enterprising prospective members of the trade and their ABAA mentor/guide who will tour the fair and meet dealers. In addition, MW will be providing free tickets to all dealers at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair at the Hynes Convention Center through its collaboration with Capricorn Events, that show's promoter. Capricorn in turn generously provides free tickets to all “shadow fair” dealers. Finally, MW has renewed its pledge to again donate a portion of fair proceeds to the ABAA's Benevolent Fund that assists booksellers in times of emergency.

2025 DEALER ROSTER:

The Pages of Yesteryear
Christopher's Rare Books
Town's End Books ABAA
Written Relics
Enchanted Books ABAA
NCC Antiques
Richard Mori Books
Lippincott Books
Val Paul Auger
Steven Schuyler Bookseller
Peek-a-Book Rare Books & Ephemera
Kenneth Leininger
periodyssey
Cardtique
Eyvie Eisenberg
Joe Maynard
John Liberati Books
Phillips & Phillips
Capitol Hill Books ABAA
Buzz Bookstore
Curt Wendler Rare Books
James Arsenault & Company ABAA
gallerybfa ABAA
Courtside Books
The Country Bookshop
Ten Pound Island Book Company ABAA
RJM Autographs and Antiques
Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc.
Complete Traveller Antiquarian Bookstore
Ellipsis Rare Books ABAA
Doyle's Books
De Wolfe & Wood ABAA
Wiggins Fine Books ABAA
Haec City / Also Books
House of Mirth Photos ABAA
William Hutchison
Peter Luke Antiques
Faenwyl Bindery
Second Wind Books
E. M. Maurice Books
The Joe Fay Company
Custodians of History, Inc.
Laureate Fine Books
leaves
James Kochan Antiquarian
metafair.com
Ephemera Mountain
Livres Dalleau
Owl of Minerva Rare Books
Imperial Fine Books ABAA