The star struck and dreamy readers are not the only ones you’ll chance upon. The thin man in loafers, slacks and French tee shirt will casually point to a stellar example of an important atlas, inquire if there is latitude, be assured there is and nod in agreement, a single item passing silently for an amount greater than most other books fairs earn for all their participants for entire events. This is how it is at the New York fair.
If there are mine owners there are also gold miners who will parse the stacked material for long sought gems and the undervalued. Such items can be found here because dealers are like specialist physicians. They know their specialty but often not the other dealer’s and it’s the nature of the trade today to buy what’s offered so long as it makes sense. However, out-of-concentration material isn’t going to be held for long but while it is fresh, that is newly landed in a dealer’s stock, it can often be bought right off the shelf well and quickly before it’s even been catalogued.
Some others of the visitors are going to have sworn they will not buy a thing. “I’m only here to look.” Spouses if they are wise will be lurking nearby. “Georgia, this is a lovely book!” “Yes George but so is the car we can buy with that money.” When Georgia is not present the deal is of course done and arrangements made to deliver it to the office. “It will be my surprise.”
There are of course also the devoted couples whose trips to the book fair refresh their long-long bonds. “He loves to collect and I love to see him happy.”
Finally there are the new-to-the-fairs who unsuspecting, chance in and find a community they have always missed and didn’t know existed. They watch NPR, attend the occasional lecture at the 72nd St. Y, read the New York Times city edition cover to cover and know there are other people like themselves in New York but can’t imagine where to find them. Here, inside the entrance, the look of the crowd is just right. “Is that ----- over there? She must be a book collector.” Then slowly, row-by-row, the novice advances, glancing and pausing, inquiring. “I’d like to buy this book. It matters to me.”
