The Annual Ephemera Society Fair Will Be Held March 15-16

There is no hotter field of collecting today than ephemera. Ephemera are those odds and ends, by definition, things that were only meant to be used for a short time. Posters, letters, greeting cards, programs, schoolwork, baseball cards are examples. Miriam Webster defines it as “something of no lasting significance.”

How wrong they are! Yesterday's trash is today's treasures. On March 15-16, collectors will be gathering in Greenwich, Connecticut, to teach the lexicographers a lesson about ephemera. They will be viewing and buying ephemeral material valued anywhere from $10 to millions of dollars. If you think millions is absurd, a Mickey Mantle baseball card recently sold for $12 million. You could buy two Shakespeare First Folios for that. The age of ephemera has arrived, and it's not too late to join the party.

The Ephemera Society of America will be holding its 45^th annual ESA Ephemera Fair. It will be held Saturday, March 15 – Sunday, March 16. The location is the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich Connecticut. It is timed to coincide with the ESA's annual meeting, held the night before. Its theme is “Invention and Innovation.”

The ESA announced that the “Ephemera Fair will feature over 10,000 items, including advertisements, baseball cards, rare maps, playbills, banknotes, sheet music, luggage tags, wood engravings, and more—spanning centuries of history and culture. With prices ranging from $10 for entry-level collectors to multi-million-dollar rarities, the fair caters to everyone from casual enthusiasts to seasoned experts.”

Michael Peich, Vice President of The Ephemera Society, added, “We’re thrilled to kick off Ephemera 45. This year’s fair offers something for everyone, blending a mix of longtime returning dealers and exciting newcomers. Our 45th annual conference, themed ‘Invention and Innovation,’ provides a unique opportunity to delve into the profound impact of ephemera on our day-to-day lives and offers an excellent introduction to ESA membership.”

The largest ephemera fair in America, the ESA event will feature over 60 exhibitors from all over the U. S., from Maine to Washington State. After forty-plus years, this is the premier event for those who collect those unusual, rare if not unique, items that constitute the category known as “ephemera.”

Hours are:

Saturday March 15 – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday March 16 – 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The price of a single day admission is $12 online, $15 at the door. Students with a valid ID (at the door) enter free. Free for children 16 and under.

To order tickets in advance, click here.

Here is a list of exhibitors.

aGatherin'

Antipodean Books, Maps & Prints

Archway Books

Art Groten's Attic

Bartleby's Books

Between The Covers Rare Books

Bluemango Books and Manuscripts

Boston 2026 World Expo

Brooklyn Rare Books

Cardtique