51st California International Antiquarian Book Fair
- by Bruce E. McKinney
Where the serious players on all sides converge
Over the weekend of Friday February 9th to Sunday February 11th the ABAA’s California Book Fair returns to Pasadena. This fair, that alternates with its northern California twin, is staged in even years in the south and in the odd years in northern California. These are the premier rare book events on the west coast.
This year’s event in Pasadena features 207 dealers from across America and from throughout the world. As well, the show includes the participation of exhibiting non-profits as well, as 3 days of lectures and public events.
What follows are 1], a list of participants and 2] a list of the events.
Links to the show’s website are provided after this article.
Here’s the list of participants:
Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc.
Between the Covers Rare Books, Inc.
Justin Croft Antiquarian Books Ltd.
Dark Parks Books & Collectibles
Wilfrid M. de Freitas - Bookseller
Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books
Green Gate Farm Antiquarian Books
David A. Hamilton Americana Books
Donald A. Heald Rare Books, Prints & Maps
Antiquariat Inlibris Gilhofer Nfg. GmbH
Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Japan (ABAJ)
Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers
Kenneth Karmiole Bookseller, Inc.
Jonathan Kearns Rare Books & Curiosities
Liber Antiquus, Early Books & Manuscripts
Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts
Martayan Lan Rare Books & Maps
Bruce McKittrick Rare Books, Inc.
J.B. Muns, Fine Arts Books & Musical Autographs
Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Co.
Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books & Manuscripts
B & L Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts
Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
Antiquariat Johann Anton Schantl
Syndicat national de la Librairie Ancienne & Moderne (SLAM)
Michael R. Thompson, Bookseller
Matthäus Truppe, Buchhandlung und Antiquariat
White Fox Rare Books and Antiques
John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller
Here is a list of special events:
FEATURED EXHIBITS
Special exhibits are open to the public during book fair hours. We are delighted to announce the special exhibits for the 51st California International Antiquarian Book Fair, which celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein:
University of California, Riverside, Special Collection and University Archives Selections
The Frankenstein special exhibit will feature books, illustrations, and original ephemera from the Eaton Collection at the University of California, Riverside Library. Prepare to be taken on an amazing journey into the world of Mary Shelley, from the 1831 first illustrated edition of Frankenstein to modern day comic books.
Occidental College Library Special Collections and Archives
Among the rare and unique items from Occidental Library's Special Collections that will be showcased is the 1818 first edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which is part of the library's Ned Guymon Mystery and Detective Fiction Collection. This collection includes about 16,000 volumes of first edition books, as well as manuscripts, film scripts, periodicals and photographs pertaining to mystery and detective fiction, from 1740 to 1975. The collection, donated by Oxy alumnus E.T. Guymon, Jr., is rich in gothic fiction and other scarce volumes that will be featured in this unique display.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Margaret Herrick Library
Dramatic and colorful examples of various Frankenstein film posters will be on display thanks to the support of the The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Margaret Herrick Library. Established in 1928, a year after the Academy was founded, the Margaret Herrick Library is a world-renowned, non-circulating reference and research collection devoted to the history and development of the motion picture as an art form and as an industry.
Book Arts
We are working with local "book art" artists and organizations to create an interactive, informative, and entertaining area at the Fair. Local libraries and universities will be exhibiting one-of-a-kind works from their collections. Calligraphers, bookbinders and a small press operator will once again be creating unique souvenirs for attendees to take home. Fun for all ages!
List of participants as of 1/8/2018:
- American Printing History Association
- Archetype Press, Art Center College of Design
- The Book Club of California
- California Rare Book School
- The Ephemera Society of America
- Guild of Book Workers, California Chapter
- International Printing Museum
- Mandeville Special Collections Library, UC San Diego
- Miniature Book Society
- Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (a division of ACRL/ALA)
- Scripps College Press
- Society for Calligraphy, Southern California
Events
Friday, February 9
1:00 pm: California Rare Book School's Road Show. Meet the faculty. Learn CalRBS' focus for 2018. Discover what knowledge and skills you need as a collector, librarian, or bookseller for success with rare materials. Have all your questions answered. Experts on the panel include: Snowden Becker, UCLA; Daniel Lewis, Huntington Library; Laura Stalker, Huntington Library; Michaela Ullmann, USC; and Susan M. Allen, CalRBS and Scripps College.
Saturday, February 10
1:00 pm: - Talk: A discussion by Sidney E. Berger, Adjunct Professor of Library and Information Science at Simmons College, former Special Collections Librarian at the University of California Riverside, and author, on the depiction of the Frankenstein character in book history, presented by the Bibliographical Society of America and ABAA.
3:00 pm: Panel discussion on the enduring legacy of Frankenstein. Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the panel discussion will be moderated by Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan and include David J. Skal, author of The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror; Sara Jane Karloff, the daughter of the original movie monster Frankenstein, Boris Karloff; literary scholar Miranda Butler, UC Riverside and others to be named.
Sunday, February 11
12:00 pm: Seminar: Rare Books 101
Noted rare booksellers will provide a speed course on the essentials you need to know to start collecting. This seminar will provide the following overview on getting started in rare book collecting:
- What makes a book rare?
- The different areas of collecting
- Internet as a research tool for shopping
- How to care for your books
1:30 - 3:00 pm: Seminar: Discovery Day
Discovery Day is open to the public, free with paid admission. Exhibitors will offer interested individuals an opportunity to receive free appraisals on up to three books. Appraisals are limited to a first come, first served basis -within the scheduled times.
Link: www.cabookfair.com