The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America hosted their 66th annual New York International Antiquarian Book Fair this past weekend, reaching record high opening night attendance.
The yearly event returned to the Park Avenue Armory, featuring rare books and memorabilia from 174 exhibitors across the globe. With 2,400 attendees on their April 30 opening preview, the fair saw a 20% surge in attendance from last year’s 1,900 visitors.
Author Patti Smith, R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, and NYIABF chair Sunday Steinkirchner all engaged in the opening night excitement. Notable members of the antique book industry and respected auctioneers joined them. The fair also reported seeing an increase in younger guests and booksellers alike — highlighting the consistent cultural relevance of antiques.
Patti Smith at the NYIABF (Courtesy of Rommel Demano)
Guests were eager to get their hands on the rare finds. Honey & Wax Booksellers reported a $10,000 sale for a first edition copy of W. B. Yeats’s 1920 poetry collection Michael Robartes and the Dancer. Johnnycake Books sold a framed poster of artist Andy Warhol’s 1964 silkscreen painting Marilyn Monroe, produced for a 1972 London exhibition. Additionally, one visitor bought a leather jacket owned by rock singer Frank Zappa from Schubertiade Music & Arts within the first half hour.
Barry Lawrence Ruderman were selling a first edition of Jack Kerouac’s book On The Road, signed by his peer Allen Ginsberg. They also had the first obtainable copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets, alongside dozens of large antique maps.
Hailing from London, Bas Books featured a rare collection of 19th century literature. First edition copies from literary giants Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Vladimir Nabokov, and George Orwell lined their booth’s walls. Despite having such a notable collection, Bas Books does not have a website or accept online orders. Co-owner Giles Bird notes that this is to preserve in-person interactions.
This year’s NYIABF highlighted the enduring appeal of rare books and historical artifacts, emphasized through their record-high attendance. Once again, the fair proved that antiquarian culture remains both relevant and resilient.
(Courtesy of Rommel Demano)
