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.
Sotheby’s Précieuses reliures d’une bibliophile Collection Georgette J. Salles Open for bidding 8-29 April
Apr. 8-29: Delaunay, Sonia — Blaise Cendrars. La Prose du Transsibérien. 1913. €120,000 to €180,000.
Apr. 8-29: Picasso, Pablo — Georges Hugnet. La Chèvre-feuille. 1943. €80,000 to €120,000.
Apr. 8-29: Schmied, François-Louis ─ Joseph-Charles Mardrus. Cantique des cantiques. 1925. €30,000 to €50,000.
Apr. 8-29: Bonnard, Pierre — Paul Verlaine. Parallèlement. 1900. €30,000 to €50,000.
Apr. 8-29: Derain, André — Guillaume Apollinaire. L’Enchanteur pourrissant. 1909. €20,000 to €30,000.
Heritage, May 13: Isaac Asimov. I, Robot. The dedication copy, inscribed to John W. Campbell, Jr.
Heritage, May 13: Aldous Huxley. Brave New World. A fine copy, in a brilliant dust jacket.
Heritage, May 13: Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author.
Heritage, May 13: Robert A. Heinlein. Stranger in a Strange Land. A fine copy, signed by the author.
Heritage, May 13: Jules Verne. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. Exceedingly rare true first American edition, first issue.
One of a Kind Auctions Tesla, Einstein & The American Presidency: Rare Historical Documents Ending April 30, 2026
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: The Republican Court; Autographs of George Washington, (Signers) Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, John Dickinson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton and More!
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: Nikola Tesla Signed Holograph Manuscript Page from "Tidal Wave to Make War Impossible," Describing the World's First Conceived Remotely Operated Weapon of Mass Naval Destruction.
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: Albert Einstein — Incredible possibly Unique Signed & Inscribed Einsteins hand “Relativitätstheorie / A. Einstein” Booklet: Relativitätstheorie, 10th Ed., 1920, Original Wrappers.
One of a Kind Auctions Tesla, Einstein & The American Presidency: Rare Historical Documents Ending April 30, 2026
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: James Joyce Personal Copy of Finnegan's Wake (With Signature).
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: Buster Keaton Flamingo Films / Kennedy Productions Archive Group, 1933–1937.
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: Extremely rare Josiah Henson (Uncle Tom) Signature & Harriet Beecher Stowe Cabinet Card.
One of a Kind Auctions Tesla, Einstein & The American Presidency: Rare Historical Documents Ending April 30, 2026
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: William Livingston (Signer of DOI), the New Jersey State Convention had unanimously ratified the Federal Constitution.
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: Complete 1927 Tunney-Dempsey "Long Count" Fight Ticket Signed by George Getz, with 1923 Dempsey-Firpo Dinner Card and Jack Dempsey Signed Photograph.
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: James Buchanan Cabinet Signed Autograph album
One of a Kind Auctions, Apr. 30: CHARLES LINDBERGH SIGNS HIS NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL BANQUET INVITATION, JUNE 14, 1927 — THREE WEEKS AFTER THE TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Jeschke Jádi Rare Book Auction 159 Saturday April 25
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 1153 Gerhard Mercator u. Jodocus Hondius. Atlas sive cosmographicae. Amsterdam, Hondius, 1606.
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 1378 Martin Höhlig, Collection of 100 photographs Berlin im Licht, 1928.
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 192. Fragment of a late medieval liturgical music manuscript. 14th century
Jeschke Jádi Rare Book Auction 159 Saturday April 25
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 1394 Auguste Salzmann. Jérusalem. 40 salt paper prints. Paris, Baudry, 1856.
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 1143 Deluxe edition of Prince Waldemar of Prussia's travelogue about Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. Berlin, 1853.
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 1225. Koch-Gruenberg. Indianertypen (Indiantypesin the Amazon). Berlin 1906.
Jeschke Jádi Rare Book Auction 159 Saturday April 25
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 862. Cornelis Ploos van Amstel. Viro Amplissimo Nobilissimo. Amsterdam 1765.
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 549. Francisco de Goya. Los desastres de la guerra. 80 Etchings. Madrid, 1923.
Jeschke Jádi, Apr. 25: Lot 1033. Rösel von Rosenhof. Natural History of Frogs. Nuremberg, 1815.
Jeschke Jádi Rare Book Auction 159 Saturday April 25
