Over the long weekend of March 14-17 in Greenwich, Connecticut there’s a fair that represents part of the future of the rare and collectible paper fields than generally gets as much attention. How so? At this fair the focus is on rare paper in all its forms, be they broadsides, pamphlets, ephemera, or maps. What’s not emphasized here are books although you’ll certainly see some. The fair lasts 4 days but the exhibition sessions 2 days. The Ephemera Fair Exhibition and Sale takes place on the 16th-17th.
The Ephemera Society of America holds it’s annual get-together within a week of the ABAA’s New York fair. This year their fair takes place the following weekend.
Their list of the dealers is a Rorschach test of those who have seen the future and know that the next big thing for collectors will be the collection of ephemeral material. They are on the right path and you’ll learn a lot by simply getting knee-high into the material offered for sale.
If possible, obtain access on Saturday during the first hour. The bargains and rarities will disappear quickly.
Here is the official posting after which we’re including a list of participating dealers:
March 14 - March 17 including various Presentations
Coming to America: the Immigrant Experience Hyatt Regency Greenwich Old Greenwich, CT
Mark your calendar for the Ephemera Society of America’s thirty-ninth annual conference, Coming to America —The Immigrant Experience on March 14–17, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Old Greenwich, Connecticut.
The story of North America is a story of immigration. With the exception of its native peoples, all Americans came to this country from somewhere else. They have arrived as trailblazers and as refugees, seeking new freedoms or economic opportunities, to unite with family or to escape looming annihilation. Sadly, those who arrived as slaves were forcefully taken from their native lands. Some have been celebrated, many welcomed, and still others, reviled and subjected to cruel and exclusionary treatment. All have carried something of their home countries that has been absorbed into their adopted home. Coming to America —The Immigrant Experience will tell these stories through ephemera. The full day conference will take place on Friday, March 15, 2019.
Immigration formed the United States, but it has often been controversial both socially and politically. From exclusionary legislation in the 19th century to keep out the Chinese, to today’s fraught border with Mexico, this year’s conference speakers embrace many facets of the immigrant narrative using ephemera to illustrate their researches. Presenters will show how Chinese laundrymen advertised in the Midwest, how the Mormons facilitated immigration from England, and how the cigar trade founded Tampa. Posters and trade cards will be highlighted to review racial stereotyping - for good or ill - specifically of the Irish and the Chinese, but also for other immigrant groups. Different immigrant groups strongly influenced American cuisine and other folkways. All groups could be targeted as consumers or praised for patriotism.
Our speakers — museum curators, academics, as well as independent collectors and scholars — view ephemera as essential to understand both the immigrant experience and societal attitude towards different groups. Many of the presenters bring personal stories that should inspire audience participation.
Attendees who come early, on Thursday, may attend an afternoon young scholar presentation on the use of ephemera by college students in the classroom.
On Saturday and Sunday March 16th and 17th, the ESA will present our widely anticipated Ephemera Fair considered by many the best in the country. There will be exceptional material from a broad spectrum of knowledgeable and experienced dealers, displaying an array of materials on countless topics. The materials are rich in content, desirable to the eye, entertaining and whimsical--choose your favorite adjective and it will apply. The Fair runs from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, with an early preview for Ephemera Society members only at 9 am. On Sunday the Fair runs from 11 am to 4 pm. You can attend just the Fair if you are not able or interested in attending the conference.
Throughout the weekend you may also view ESA member exhibits showcasing one or more aspects of their personal collections. Click here if you are interested in submitting an exhibit related to this year's theme.
Following the Fair on Saturday, the Ephemera Society will hold its annual fund-raising auction, preceded by cocktails and followed by our banquet, open by reservation to all ESA members. Our banquet presentation will feature a presentation by Evie Eysenburg on The Chinese Exclusion Act – Shaping People’s Opinions. Sunday morning will feature our Exhibitor Roundtable where exhibitors will have the opportunity to describe their themes and the significance of the pieces they selected.
For specific information on each aspect of the event click the page links on Ephemera 39 page links below or on the page side bar.
http://www.ephemerasociety.org/events.html
Location:
1800 East Putnam Avenue
Old Greenwich, Connecticut
Hours for the exhibition:
Saturday March 16th 10-5 pm
Sunday March 17th 11-4 pm
Here is a link to the official site.
Participating dealers:
Aaron Benneian Historical Americana
aGatherin'
Aiglatson
Al Malpa Ephemera
Antipodean Books Maps & Prints
A Rare Book
Archway Books
Auger Down Books, ABAA-ILAB
Bartleby's Books
Between the Covers Rare Books
Boss Fine Books and Art
Boston Rare Maps, Inc.
Cardtique
Caren Archive Inc.
Caroliniana
Cartophilian/Rodriguez Archives
Carydale Books
Chloe's Original Ephemera
Class Menagerie
Colebrook Book Barn
Commonwealth Books
Cultural Images
Dan Moyer
David Cohn
David Thompson Antiques & Art
Dennis Holzman Antiques
Division Leap
Eclectibles
Erin Waters Fine Photography
Evie Eysenburg
Evolving Lens Bookseller
Fairlook Antiques
Frank Oppel
Franklin Gilliam :: Rare Books
Gallerybfa
Gary White-Books & Ephemera
George P. Sutton Rare Books
Gilann Books
High Ridge Books, Inc.
House of Mirth Photos
Ian Brabner Rare Americana
Island Antiques
James Arsenault & Company
Janet West
Jason Rovito, Bookseller
Jeffrey H. Marks Rare Books
Joslin Hall Books & Ephemera
Kaplan & Kopelson Books
Kuenzig Books & Antiques
L & T Respess Books
Le Bookiniste
Locus Solus Rare Books
McBride Rare Books
Melrose Books & Art
Michael Maslan Photgraphs & Ephemera
NCC Antiques
Neverbird Antiques
Original Antique Maps
Patricia Reilly
Periodyssey
Peter L. Masi - books
Peter Luke Antiques
Quadrille
Rabelais
Resser-Thorner Antiques
Richard Mori Books
Robert Staples
Robinson Murray III, Bookseller
Roland & Co.
S & C Resnick
Sandra L. Hoekstra Bookseller
Seth Kaller
Stuart Lutz Historic Documents Inc.
Tamerlane Books
Ten Pound Island Book Co.
The John Bale Book Co.
The Old Print Shop Inc.
University Archives
W.C. Baker Rare Books & Ephemera
White Fox Rare Books and Antiques
Wiggins Fine Books
William Hutchison
Willis Monie
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