April in New York
- by Bruce E. McKinney
53rd ABAA NY Fair
On Thursday April 11th, as they have for more than 50 years, members of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, will hold court in New York at the Park Avenue Armory on Park Avenue at 67th Street. This year’s four-day event is, for the rare book field, their Vatican Council. Two hundred and seventeen firms from across the Americas, England, Europe, Australia, and Asia will be exhibiting with millions of dollars hanging in the balance. It makes the show, for the thousands who will attend, a reference in their collecting lives.
The show is running from Thursday the 11th to Sunday the 14th.
On Saturday at 1:00 pm, a one-hour talk and Q & A will focus on Book Collecting 101. On Sunday, Discovery Day, from noon to 3:00 pm, visitors can have their items appraised by exhibitors will offer their expertise on up to five items. While formal appraisals will not be given, dealers will be happy to discuss the value of items from all periods and in many languages.
The Manhattan Village Books & Ephemera Fair
While the ABAA fair is the dominant event, there is another book fair in the city – The Manhattan Village Books & Ephemera Fair on Friday and Saturday the 12th and 13th. This is the ‘shadow’ fair in the Altman Building at 135 West 18th Street. Hours are 5:00 – 9:00 pm on Friday and 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday.
Appraisals at the Shadow Fair will be available Saturday 1:00 to 3:00 pm for a $5.- fee.
Adding complexity, in April, there are also almost 100 book, manuscript, map and ephemera auctions worldwide with about one quarter of them focused in the American northeast. Many will be exhibiting material at their New York locations. At the end of this article is a search to all posted upcoming lots.
Here is contact information for the book fairs:
The ABAA Fair:
643 Park Avenue, NYC, NY
Hours:
Thursday: Preview 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday: Noon – 8:00 pm
Saturday: Noon – 7:00 pm
Sunday: Noon – 5:00 pm
The Manhattan Village Books & Ephemera Fair:
The Altman Building, 135 W. 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
Hours:
Friday: 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Search the upcoming auctions in AE’s global auction search