The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is Coming Soon
- by Bruce E. McKinney
Soon you can see yourself here!
Soon book and collectible paper dealers worldwide will be organizing their material and scheduling staff for the New York book fair at the Armory on Madison Avenue. In the world of collectible paper this is where power meets power. This is where the greatest dealers, the greatest collectors and curators from the greatest institutions meet. This year’s 4-day event opens on April 30 and ends on May 3rd.
This year, its 66th, 170 exhibitors are scheduled to participate. They will be a diverse group. One hundred and six dealers from the United States, 30+ from the United Kingdom, 17 from France, and 16 from the balance of the globe altogether comprise the greatest concentration of important dealers both this year and every year. The New York fair is the field’s flagship event.
The chemistry of the fair is complex. The booth rentals are always going up while the market is experiencing a slow shift from marque material to less expensive maps and ephemera that takes quite a lot of space and generally commands much lower prices. The folks who arrive by limos will certainly be very well serviced but the emerging next generation of collectors who start with inexpensive purchases, need to come home with some victories too. The ABAA tries very hard to cater to both audiences. They do provide a $10 student admission.
Nearby, over Saturday, the 2nd, the Manhattan Fine Press Book Fair functions as an unofficial extension of the ABAA fair. This fair focuses on “the book as art” and is always popular and attracts rafts of less expensive material.
Some New York dealers offer special exhibitions and open houses. There you can see a significant portion of their holdings. Both James Cummins Bookseller and Bauman Rare Books are open throughout the weekend.
If you have the time before the fair opens, The Other Islands Book Fair, on April 25-26 at the Pfizer Building in Brooklyn will offer the “indie” alternative encouraging zines, local publishers and experimental artists.
If you’re feeling revolutionary, Printed Matter (Chelsea/St. Marks), is planning an exhibition of protest photography called as Flashpoint! Running through May 3rd.
The Main Event: 66th ABAA NY International Antiquarian Book Fair
This is the "anchor" of the weekend, held in the historic and cavernous Park Avenue Armory.
Address: Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue (between 66th & 67th Streets), New York, NY 10065.
Days & Hours:
Thursday, April 30: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Preview Night)
Friday, May 1: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 2: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 3: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Primary Shadow Fair: Manhattan Rare Book & Fine Press Fair
Located literally across the street from the Armory, this is the most common "second stop" for collectors. It is a one-day-only event.
Address: Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, 869 Lexington Avenue (at 66th Street), New York, NY 10065.
Day & Hours:
Saturday, May 2: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Indie Satellite: Other Islands Book Fair
This event takes place the weekend prior to the main ABAA fair, making it a great "prelude" if your story covers the lead-up to the big show. It focuses on independent publishing and art books.
Address: Pfizer Building, 630 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206.
Leland Little, June 12: The First Illustrated Edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
Leland Little, June 12: John Morton, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Signed Pennsylvania Land Survey.
Leland Little, June 12: The Scarce Jansson Edition of a Remarkable Early View of London.
Leland Little, June 12: Signed Limited Edition of The Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Leland Little, June 12: Faden’s Important and Scarce Map of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution.
Leland Little, June 12: William J. Tate (NC, 1869-1953), Archive of the "Original host to the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk.”
June 25, 2026
Doyle, June 25: Houdini's biography, boldly signed. $3,000 to $5,000.
Doyle, June 25: A volume from Abraham Lincoln's library, signed just before heading to Washington for his inauguration. $20,000 to $30,000.
Doyle, June 25: A very early Confederate recruiting manual belonging to the chief commissary in Lee's Army. $600 to $800.
Doyle, June 25: Rare hand-colored lithographs of the life of Napoleon. $20,000 to $30,000.
Doyle, June 25: The "Holster Atlas" of the American Revolution. $5,000 to $8,000.
Doyle, June 25: Jewish ceremonies in fine hand-colored engravings. $7,000 to $10,000.
Doyle, June 25: A very rare work on Turkish military costume. $1,000 to $1,500.
June 25, 2026
Doyle, June 25: The most important illustrated work on the Mexican-American War. $10,000 to $15,000.
Doyle, June 25: The finest illustrated book on Afghanistan. $10,000 to $15,000.
Doyle, June 25: Henry Justice Ford St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. $2,000 to $3,000.
Doyle, June 25: A rare work of Prussian Army uniforms under Frederick William II, with exquisite hand-colored engravings. $800 to $1,200.
Doyle, June 25: Lenny Bruce typed letter signed to a Village bohemian during his obscenity trials, with a manuscript note and drawing. $300 to $500.
Doyle, June 25: Schiff's scarce Shanghai Sketchbook. $300 to $500.
Doyle, June 25: The first accurate published representation of the American flag. $2,000 to $4,000.
Freeman’s How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X June 30
Freeman’s, June 30: [Queen Anne's War] Extraordinarily Large Manuscript Petition Signed by a Who's Who of Colonial New York Accomplished to Queen Anne. $8,000/12,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [Mormonism] A Unique Manuscript Account of Joseph Smith's Final Words Offered to His Congregation, the Day Before his Violent Death, 1844. $8,000/12,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [Baseball] [Mantle, Mickey] Mickey Mantle's First Cover: The Earliest Front-Page Newspaper Image of Mickey Mantle, "Something Good from Joplin". $8,000/12,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [Baseball] A Striking Type 1 Press Photograph of Lou Gehrig's Hands. $8,000/12,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [Declaration of Independence] One of the First Printed Announcements of American Independence, Subscriber Ebenezer Hazard's Copy, in the Exceedingly Rare Original Wrappers, 1776. $10,000/15,000
Freeman’s How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X June 30
Freeman’s, June 30: [American Revolution] Born in the USA: First Day of Printing in the United States, July 4, 1776! $15,000/25,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [War of 1812] "We Have Met the Enemy and They are Ours": The Critical Promotion of a Naval Hero, Oliver Hazard Perry is Appointed Master Commandant in the United States Navy, 1812. $40,000/60,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [Star-Spangled Banner] Eyewitness Account of the Shelling of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, in a Manuscript Logbook from the HMS Trave, Present at the Battles of Baltimore and New Orleans, 1814-16. $60,000/80,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [American Revolution] Thomas Jefferson at the Birth of a New Nation: An Important Letter Carried by a Jewish Patriot Communicating the Definitive Treaty of Paris, January 16, 1784. $100,000/200,000
Freeman’s, June 30: [Colonial America] [Plymouth Colony] Plymouth Colony Seeks a Royal Charter: A Rare and Important Plymouth Colony Document, 1690/91. $6,000/9,000
Sotheby’s Selections from The Jay T. Snider Collection of Benjamin Franklin Live Sale 24 June
Sotheby’s, June 24: (Benjamin Franklin). The founding—and funding—of the Pennsylvania Hospital. $150,000 to $200,000.
Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin, "the Day of the Declaration of Independence is everywhere annually celebrated”. $80,000 to $120,000.
Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin, “probably the most fundamental thing ever done in the field of electricity”. $75,000 to $125,000.
Sotheby’s, June 24: Benjamin Franklin. One of Franklin's very earliest surviving letters. $40,000 to $60,000.
Sotheby’s, June 24: Roger More and Benjamin Franklin. The only complete copy known of Poor Roger. $25,000 to $35,000.
Sotheby’s, June 24: John Jerman. The American Almanack ... for 1731 — the only known copy in private hands. $25,000 to $35,000.
