The Gold Rush Book Fair May 17th in Grass Valley, California
- by Bruce E. McKinney
An opportunity for collectors.
By Bruce McKinney
As certain as the arrival of spring birds the Gold Rush Book Fair enters the calendars of those who live in northern California, who visit and who buy, sell, collect and trade the printed word in all its many forms. With fifty to fifty-five exhibitors it's a typical regional fair with a distinctive emphasis on collectible material, in particular the American west.
It's the 8th annual fair and this the 6th year it's held at the Nevada County Fair Grounds on the outskirts of Grass Valley. In this location it's both close to downtown and just far enough away to make parking easy. The fair is three hours northeast of San Francisco and sixty minutes northeast of Sacramento. It's a one day event Saturday May 17th.
As is custom, the event begins with an exhibitors' dinner on Friday evening. This year Michael Good of Woodacre, long-time Bay Area bookman, is both honored guest bookseller and speaker at the dinner. Mr. Good is an engaging character. The event will be held at the Masonic Lodge under the guiding hand of Waynette Trovato, an outstanding chef whose husband is the police chief. No complaints are expected.
The appeal of this and similar regional books fairs is very straightforward. A significant percentage of material offered at such fairs is undocumented, in particular the ephemera which can appear insubstantial but is hardly inconsequential. Such material illuminates the spaces between books which are typically well documented and newspapers that are known in outline but rarely searchable by date, name, place and event. Here you have an opportunity to parse obscure material and acquire relevant pieces.
The event is organized by John and Susie Hardy who, between shows, make a living as Hardy Books of Nevada City. John, a former lawyer, now makes only arresting observations between sales of the printed word.
As we go to press a few spaces remain. The booth rent is an affordable $290. For the experienced bookseller it's two days in the country, for the neophyte bookseller a chance to be behind the table so to gain a seller’s experience.
For book, manuscript and ephemera collectors, it's the opportunity to catch up with old friends and old materials newly uncovered. Collectors, new to the field or simply new to this event, will find a collegial community interested to work with you.
All things show related, contact information, a map and directions will be found via this link to the Gold Rush Book Fair's web site. Mr. Hardy can be reached by phone at 530.470.0189 for those interested to exhibit.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
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Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
