Rare Book Monthly

Articles - March - 2025 Issue

If you collect paper, plan to be in the Big Apple

If you collect paper, plan to be in the Big Apple

 

 

As of February 25th, 182 rare book and collectible paper dealers are signed up to participate at the upcoming New York Book Fair. It’s the most important book fair year after year worldwide. What does that mean and why does it matter? Where and when?

 

The New York International Book Fair

Park Avenue Armory

643 Park Avenue

New York, N. Y.

 

There are tens of thousands of bookdealers worldwide. A few have shops, while most post their stock on line. A very rare few follow the worldwide collectible paper show circuit, exhibiting in places like Hong Kong, at Pasadena or San Francisco on the American west coast, in New York, London, Paris and on and on. The dealers exhibiting in New York are the prestige folks. They handle superb copies, speak in many languages, and live and breathe old, rare and collectible paper. Their top people, even their owners, can be found in deep discussion with the field’s cognoscenti during the New York show.  Think of it as a Vatican enclave.  The Bishops are there. This is why, if you’re serious, you go. 

 

Of course rare books are far more than Gutenberg Bibles. These days the patrician and plebian are found in the same rows in the New York show.  Rare photography are remarkable objects to be found, so too are important letters. All kinds of ephemera is emerging. And there are many specialists in categories. For that you’ll need to click on the show program.  If you are a poet at heart, son of a gun, you can plan to meet dealers who have the same affliction. Look ‘em up.

 

Walk up to them offering, -

 

“Oh, for a nook and a storybook. With tales both new and old. For a jolly good book whereon to look. Is better to me than gold.”— Old English Song.

Or

There is no Frigate like a Book
By Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry.
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll;
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul!

You find smiles and kindred spirits.

 

And be aware, about half these dealers started as collectors, just like you. If you feel that you might want to get serious, New York is the serious place.

 

Here are links to the show’s web site.  https://www.nyantiquarianbookfair.com/

 

Here is another to view who is exhibiting. https://www.nyantiquarianbookfair.com/exhibitors

 

Open Hours and Tickets   https://www.nyantiquarianbookfair.com/visitor-info

Rare Book Monthly

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    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Book of Hours by the Masters of Otto van Moerdrecht, Use of Sarum, in Latin, Southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Albert Einstein. Autograph letter signed, to Attilio Palatino, on his research into General Relativity, 12 May 1929. £12,000 to £18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: John Gould. The Birds of Europe, [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Sotheby’s
    Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern
    Now through July 10, 2025
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Ian Fleming. A collection of James Bond first editions, 8 volumes in all. £8,000 to £12,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue. £50,000 to £70,000.
    Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.R.R. Tolkien. Autograph letter signed, to Amy Ronald, on Pauline Baynes's map of Middle Earth, 1970. £7,000 to £10,000.
  • Rare Book Hub is now mobile-friendly!
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    July 23, 2025
    DOYLE, July 23: WALL, BERNHARDT. Greenwich Village. Types, Tenements & Temples. Estimate $300-500
    DOYLE, July 23: STOKES, I. N. PHELPS. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. New York: Robert H. Dodd, 1915-28. Estimate: $3,000-5,000
    DOYLE, July 23: [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800
    DOYLE, July 23: [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions. San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.
    DOYLE, July 23: TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. Anna Karénina ... in eight parts. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600
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