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The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair celebrates its 30th anniversary this month when it opens for business on November 17.
It’s a notable landmark considering the organizers of the first fair were unsure whether anyone would even walk through the entrance doors.
Today, it’s a different story and the book fair, sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, has become a key date on the bibliophilic calendar. More than 120 rare booksellers from North America and Europe will be exhibiting books for sale ranging from rare and antiquarian classics to modern first editions as well as manuscripts, maps, prints and other ephemera.
As with the recent ILAB and Seattle antiquarian book fairs, there will be highly collectible books worth thousands of dollars for sale, but Ken Gloss, the chairman of the event’s organizing committee, has a very clear message, especially for anyone just starting out as a book collector.
Ken Gloss in his bookstore, the Brattle Book Shop, in downtown Boston. |
“Don’t be intimidated,” said Gloss, proprietor of the Brattle Book Shop in downtown Boston. “Don’t be scared to talk to the dealers. They love what they do and the hard thing is getting them to stop answering your questions rather than getting them to answer at all.
“We’re very aware that all types of people come along so I am purposely bringing a collection of pop-up books with many priced from $10 to $15 because they appeal to people looking for affordable books. We hope to reach out to as many people as possible.”
The fair takes place from November 17 through November 19 at Boston’s Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street and tickets cost $15 for all three days or $8 each for Saturday and Sunday.
“This fair has grown and grown over the years,” explained Gloss, who has exhibited at every Boston Antiquarian Book Fair and is an appraiser on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow. “At the first one, we were all wondering if anyone would come but they came.
“Over the years, there have been so many memories. I remember seeing David McCullough and Doris Kearns Goodwin at either end of my booth – two of America’s great historians. They looked up, saw each other and ran across the booth to hug.
“One year, a radio announcer did some pre-publicity for us and he took a look around. On his way out, I asked how he liked it. ‘Great,’ he replied. He had bought a pack of playing cards signed by Houdini and Gypsy Rose Lee’s pasties. You see, there’s something for everyone.
“Every year, there’s a guy waiting in the line to get in and I know he’s interested in baseball. He’s always one of the first in line and now I just go up to him and tell him if I’ve got anything for him or not.”
Bromer Booksellers – another Boston-based dealer specializing in miniature books and beautiful books generally – will also be exhibiting at the fair just like they have done for the past 30 years. For Anne Bromer, co-owner, the book fair has always been a family affair.
“The Boston Antiquarian Book Fair was a labor of love for my mother, Florence,” said Anne. “Her husband was initially contracted to run the fair for the first 10 years of its existence but he died after the first one. My mother took over the contract and devoted the next nine years of her life to it.
“She dedicated herself particularly to making the overseas booksellers as welcome as possible – even if that meant giving up her apartment so they had somewhere to stay. She died in April and we were overwhelmed with the letters and messages on the internet from people who knew her through the book fair.”
Michael Ginsberg, of Michael Ginsberg Books, has also sold books at every Boston fair. This year, he will be bringing around 200 to 250 books and pamphlets ranging from $150 to $7,500.
“The first year was an experiment,” admits Ginsberg, who operates his bookselling business from Sharon, MA – midway between Boston and Providence on Rhode Island. “Over the years, we have changed locations but Hynes Convention Center is centrally situated downtown so that means people can find it easily, park with no problems, attend the fair and then go off and do other things too.
“I’ve seen people come from all over the States, Canada, UK, Germany, New Zealand and places like Alaska and Hawaii. It’s my hometown so I love the fair.”
According to Gloss, the fair is much more than the buying and selling of rare books. “We have a lot of peripheral events that will appeal to many people,” he said.
The Ticknor Society, an organization dedicated to books and book culture, will host a roundtable with collegiate collectors to discuss what inspired their collections on November 18 at 2pm. Appraisers will be available to value books and manuscripts brought in by the public on November 19 from 1pm until 3pm.
A full schedule of events, and more details about the fair as well as directions, can be found at www.bostonbookfair.com.
Meet AbeBooks booksellers at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair
See more book fairs taking place this year
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