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 16^th-17^th.

 

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:

 

Ephemera 39

 

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 16^th and 17^th, 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 16^th 10-5 pm

Sunday March 17^th 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