Pasadena: Feb 21-22;  ABAA San Francisco: Feb. 27-March 1

 

Two big California antiquarian book fairs are coming up in late February. Rare Books Pasadena welcomes booksellers and bibliophiles from around the world to share their love of antiquarian books, fine prints, maps, ephemera the weekend of February 21-22 in Pasadena.

 

The Pasadena fair features more than 80 exhibitors from London, Melbourne, New York, and throughout the United States and Canada at the historic Raymond Theatre, which serves as the main stage. A second location at the neighboring Courtyard by Marriott/Pasadena-Old Town ballroom (a short walk away) has many additional vendors with an outstanding array of rare books and other historical material.

 

A list of exhibitors and their booth information can be found at https://rarebooksla.com/pasadena/

 

Pre-event ticket sales are available online through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rare-books-pasadena-february-21-22-2026-tickets-1976413307406

 

Admission is available as single tickets for either day or a two day pass. A pair of passes + a bookbag package is also offered. Tickets are also available at the door. 

 

The Pasadena event is the traditional shadow fair where exhibitors do not need to have a specific trade affiliation to participate. The next weekend the action moves north to San Francisco. There from Fri., Feb 27 until Sun., March 1 the ABAA hosts the 57th Annual California International Book Fair. 

 

According to the ABAA website the fair returns to San Francisco once again at Pier 27 on the Embarcadero. Always an exciting event, this year over 100 exhibitors from around the world are expected to be on hand. The harbor-front venue showcases an enormous array of materials, including books, maps, ephemera, drawings, manuscripts, autographs displayed on two floors.

  

For more details visit the main show website: https://www.abaa.org/events/57th-california-international-antiquarian-book-fair

 

Find a list of ABAA vendors and their booths at https://www.abaa.org/event/exhibitor-list

 

Show hours are:

Fri., Feb., 27 | 4pm - 8pm VIP preview 

Sat., Feb. 28 | 11am - 7pm

Sun., March 1 | 11am - 4pm

Find ticketing info and prices at https://www.abaa.org/event/buy-tickets 

 

The San Francisco show offers free admission for students with current valid student ID. Children 12 and under are free.

 

There is free admission for librarians, curators and related non-profit cultural institution workers who register in advance with a valid organizational email address (e.g. email@institution.edu or email@institution.org). Use Promo Code LIBRARY57. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/57th-california-international-antiquarian-book-fair-tickets-1748615158009?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

A schedule of speakers for Sat., Feb. 28 can be found at https://www.abaa.org/event/speaker-schedule

 

Both fairs feature top dealers and are both expected to be well attended. If you’re on the West Coast and books are your thing, it is well worth your time (and money) to attend. 

 

As is the custom, the dealers usually do their own buying and selling during the set up period, which of course is half the fun of being an exhibitor. Lots of merch changes hands before the doors even open.

 

Large scale book fairs are not usually the place to find bargains, but they are the places to see a splendid array of what the trade has to offer. Meet and greet is an essential part of the scene, as is schmooze and booze after hours.

 

Both the Pasadena and San Francisco events offer a wide range of experts to help you enlarge your collection (or possibly dispose of it). Either way it’s both entertaining and educational (though it can be exhausting) just to make the rounds, see the wares and hang-out with fellow bibliophiles. 

 

The last show I went to in San Francisco two years ago was an ABAA event. It was much more diverse than in earlier years, with a healthy component of young people and book lovers who drove in from around the state. Quite a few of them came back for a second and third look. Wear comfortable shoes, be prepared to stand in line, and also for security checks going in and out. 

 

Hint: Participating dealers often have a limited number of free passes to distribute to friends and clients. If you're thinking of attending either of these fairs don’t forget to check the exhibitors list and see if any of your dealer friends might comp you a pass or two. Even if you don’t score a freebie, the admission is relatively reasonable, and in San Francisco admission is free for students and for members of the library and academic world who pre-register.