NYC Antiquarian Book Fair 2019
Do you love old books? You need something to spend your free time on while you’re lounging about the Upper East Side apartments, and some intensive reading is one thing that usually does the trick! Antique tomes aren’t something that just fall out of the sky, however, which is why events like the upcoming New York Antiquarian Book Fair are so crucial if you’re looking to score on one of these unique pieces of history. Ready to learn about this amazing, once-a-year opportunity? Keep reading, as we dish out the details.
What is the New York Antiquarian Book Fair?
Imagine, if you will, a booklover’s dream — a treasure trove of antique and hard-to-find treasures, read and waiting to be purchased and read. That’s the promise of the New York Antiquarian Book Fair, now in its 59th year:
“From March 7-10, 2019 book lovers will find a fascinating treasure trove at the Park Avenue Armory. Over 200 American and international dealers will exhibit at The ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, bringing a vast selection of rare books, maps, manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts and ephemera.”
Among that vast selection, you’ll find volumes covering “art, medicine, literature, photography, autographs, first editions, Americana, and much more,” essentially, what every bookworm wants most in life. No worries about verifying the authenticity of these books on your own either, since the book fair has both the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America’s and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers’ stamp of approval. This means all of the books on sale during the event already been examined in detail, ensuring their legitimacy and worth.
The full list of exhibitors that will be in attendance at the book fair is vast, so much so that we can’t cover every participant here. We can, however, highlight a few of the notables so you have an idea of what to expect when you go:
George S. MacManus Company — This purveyor of rare books hails from the Philadelphia area, and has been dealing in antiquities for nearly seventy years. They have 45,000 titles in their inventory, with their specialty focusing on “18th and 19th century Americana with specialities such as Voyages and Travels, Local Histories, Indians and the West and the Civil War.” For those not so immersed in the world of American history, they also carry “English and American literary first editions, Limited Edition Club selections and Books about Books.”
Old Editions — This combination bookshop and gallery is based in Tonawanda, New York, and run by Buffalo native Ron Cozzi. Ron started assembling his collection in the 1970s, and today has a entire 35,000 square-foot building filled with “Used and Rare Books, Prints and Artwork, First Editions and Signed Books, Historical Documents and Autographs, Collectible Magazines, Postcards, and Memorabilia.” Old Editions prides themselves on integrity, and takes the art of bookdealing to a whole new level.
Biblioctopus — The name itself is enough to get most interested in Biblioctopus, but they’ve got more than just a fancy moniker — they’ve transformed the selling of old books into a science, and treat the craft with the seriousness it deserves. Their inventory includes many a classic, including works by George Gordon (Lord Byron) and William S. Burroughs. Their selection isn’t limited strictly to books, though, and you’ll also find among their offerings various manuscripts, tablets, and artworks of an antique nature.
It’s evident that the New York Antiquarian Book Fair will be jam packed with elite sellers of rare inventories, and if you’re in the market for some great books, this will likely be a worthwhile experience. Don’t just take our word for it, though, you can read up on what last year’s fair was like for yourself:
“Pinnacle is one of those thankfully rarely used sobriquets to denote a peak experience. It is not misused when it comes to the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair...It is simply the finest book fair that the world has to offer.”
Now, if your curiosity is thoroughly piqued, let’s move onto those important details, the where, when, and how of the matter.
Ready to Hit the Book Fair?
This year’s iteration of the New York Antiquarian Book Fair will be going on from March 7th to March 10th, at the Park Avenue Armory right in the Upper East Side. This gargantuan building is well-known as a haven for the visual and performing arts, and the historically-styled interior is perhaps the perfect setting for a trove of antique books:
“The Armory’s 55,000 square foot drill hall, reminiscent of the original Grand Central Depot and the great train sheds of Europe, remains one of the largest unobstructed spaces of its kind in New York.”
The schedule for the fair is as follows:
Thursday, March 7th — 5:00PM to 9:00PM
Friday, March 8th — 12:00PM to 8:00PM
Saturday, March 9th — 12:00PM to 7:00PM
Sunday, March 10th — 12:00PM to 5:00PM
Additionally, Sunday will be what they call a “Discovery Day.” This means you can bring some items from your own collection to be evaluated by the experts at the book fair. Who knows, maybe you have some antique treasures of your own laying around the apartment, waiting to be found?
As far as tickets are concerned, you’ll need a separate pass to join the preview event (Thursday) which is $60.00; for all other days of the fair, tickets are going for $10.00 for students, $25.00 for general public, and $45.00 for a multi-day pass. The Discovery Day is free so long as you’ve purchased admittance to the event. Be sure to snag your tickets early, and have a great time perusing all of those antique books!
The Upper East Side Apartments Are a Great Place to Read
What atmosphere could be more conducive for reading than tucked away among the tranquility of the Upper East Side? At Renoir House, every detail is tailored to your comfort and luxury, so if you want to sit for a spell and dive into an antique epic, you’ll enjoy an unparalleled level of peace as you do. See what these beautiful, majestic apartments have in store, then take the next step to making the Upper East Side your new home.
