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