Book Fairs: Many are on the calendar

There are several major international and regional book fairs scheduled between now and April 1^st. The “Big Three” of the spring season – London, Leipzig, and Taipei – all fall in the first months of 2026, and when you look just a bit later the Bologna Children’s Book Fair begins April 13^th. The Salon du Livre de Geneve escapes mention but certainly deserves to be added. These fairs don’t focus on rare and collectible books.

When adding the terms” rare and collectible” the list of upcoming fairs, the “Rare and Antiquarian” circuit appears instantly. These are smaller, very focused fairs that support those involved in collectible paper:

Stuttgart Rare Book Fair, Stuttgart, Germany January 23-25

Rare Book LA, Pasadena, California described as a massive gathering of West Coast dealers and collectors: February 21-23. 70-80 specialist booksellers are expected for a “boutique” experience. Here’s their website: rarebooksla.com

The California Int’l Antiquarian Book Fair, San Francisco, California, February 27-March 1, also described as a “massive event for ILAB dealers. They expect 100-120 exhibitors and 5,000 guests. Their website: www.abaa.org/events/57th-california-international-antiquarian-book-fair

Then there is the Tokyo Int’l Antiquarian Book Fair, Tokyo, Japan, March 13-15. It’s described as the “primary event for Asian rare book markets. No estimates provided. Their website: ilab.org/event/tokyo-international-antiquarian-book-fair-1-1-1

And then there is the ESA Ephemera 46 Fair, Greenwich, Connecticut, that is described as “The gold standard for paper ephemera (postcards, posters, etc.)." It’s on March 21-22 with 60+ specialists dedicated specifically to paper and ephemera. As to the expected traffic, it’s described as “a highly dedicated niche crowd of several hundred to a thousand serious collectors.” Here’s their website: www.sanfordsmith.com/esafair

Net-net, while the world of both new and old books (and paper) has adapted to the online experience, the in-person experience remains highly valued. If you feel the urge to go, then go. And if you are a Rare Book Hub member, remember your subscription is live on your cellphone. Use our 175 years of auction experience to research what interests you.

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Book Fairs: Many are on the calendar

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Book Fairs: Many are on the calendar

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