Book Fair in Review!
Notable moments from this year's International Antiquarian Book Fair
Hello everyone!
It’s a chilly and rainy Monday here in NYC. I’m sitting at my desk sipping a cup of coffee, thinking of the weekend and all the new memories created from this year’s international antiquarian book fair, held each year at the historic Park Avenue Armory in NYC. As mentioned before, last year I became the fair’s first Ambassador, and adding 8 more ambassadors to the program this year, shifted my title to Founding Ambassador, which to me feels very special and a role I stand in proudly. :)
The fair was lovely this year - a bustling preview event on Thursday evening, and throughout the weekend it was fairly crowded. On Saturday morning, my mom and I did a surprise performance in the Colonel’s Room, sharing songs, stories, and poems, joined by our dear friend Henry Wessells of James Cummins Bookseller. That day, April 5, was the launch day of A Book of Rhymes, the unpublished manuscript by Charlotte Brontë, which Henry acquired a few years ago and had on display at the 2022 book fair. That year it was the crown jewel of the fair, such a magical delight to see it there in its case, this tiny booklet that had been lost for so long, hidden in an envelope, waiting for its new era.
In a previous Substack post I wrote this:
The first time my mom ever brought me to the fair, the first booth we visited was James Cummins Bookseller, and we were greeted with spirited warmth by their seller since 2000, Henry Wessells. He is passionate about his work and so fun to talk with, always eager to share the joy of their newest find. In 2022 their booth had on display something very special from their collection - a newly discovered Charlotte Bronte manuscript, miniature handwritten pages called ‘Book of Rhymes.’ This beautiful piece of creativity and history was the star of the fair that year. You could feel the buzzing of excitement around this little object, and you could see the wonder in everyone’s eyes as they got close to it. Such magical joy brought on by this tiny little book. You can read this PDF here about the manuscript and see pictures of its details. Their booth is always situated near the front entrance of the fair, just over to the right, so they are always our first stop upon arrival, and each year, Henry greets us with the same warmth that I experienced the first time from him.
When the manuscript was purchased and set to be published for the masses, Henry asked my mom to write an introduction, which she did graciously. Now it is available to order here in hardcover and paperback from Tartarus Press.
It was such a joy to be joined by Henry on Saturday, as he told the short version of the long tale of acquiring the manuscript, and of the journey he’s been on as part of its history. I love the way booksellers like Henry talk about the gems they come across - they never use language of ownership or ego, more so they are humbled to be in the presence of such majestic treasures, using words more akin to caretakers or shepherds - lucky souls who meet and maybe befriend a book for a short moment in its lifetime.
In our presentation, we also spotlighted our friends From Sanctuary Rare Books, primarily Heide Hatry and her artist books and sculptural creations this year, dedicated to Flaco, the beloved Eurasian eagle owl who died in 2023 after crashing into a skyscraper. We shared two books created in his memory, including ‘Flacofolio,’ a book of micro-essays by Leonard Schwartz with images by Heide.
Dan Wechsler from Sanctuary also sent me two poems by Mary Oliver to choose from to read in light of this theme. It was difficult to choose between them, but I read this one, ‘White Owl Flies Into and Out Of the Field.’ This was the other option, which I also loved and may have been more aligned with the theme of the fair.
As April 5 was also the passing date of Allen Ginsberg, my mom read ‘A Supermarket in California,’ while I accompanied her on keyboard. We talked about Allen, my mom shared stories of his life and death. I talked about how I first met Dan by purchasing a Gregory Corso zine from his booth years ago at the fair.
We mentioned Anne Waldman, and the fact that her 80th birthday was April 2. Everyone clapped as her son and granddaughter (my goddaughter, too) were there in the audience. We drew through lines and connections, and showed through example the threads of friendship and inspiration that exist organically through books, the written word, and the antiquarian world of collection and remembrance.
Other special moments include regular visits with Benoît Forgeot, our representative from France who is always warm and welcoming. I also loved visiting with Spencer Hunt of Geographicus Rare Antique Maps, who very thoughtfully brought a beautiful Michigan map for me to see. I was so touched that he remembered our conversations from last year, and knew that I would so much appreciate a beautiful piece of history from my home state. I was especially taken also with the maps of New York City he brought, primarily two which showed the realistic topographical land of Manhattan at the time, where the highest points of the city were represented mostly by church spires. In another very beautiful visual, the high points seemed more so to be taken by the masts of tall ships on the river. I kept saying that those two maps felt like these full body bunches to the gut, simultaneously beautiful and devastating, as the best things often are. I didn’t get the best photos of them, not to cause too much chaos in their bustling booth, but wanted to remember them a little bit with extra documentation.
And a few more favorites because you can never have too many.
I always feel honored to be represented on the fair’s press wall in the dealer’s lounge, and loved seeing both my last Substack post and the Financial Times article there on the wall. :) Thank you Melissa and Andrey for including me!
It’s one of my absolute favorite parts of the fair also to welcome friends to visit - either as annual attendees or first time visitors. I love to stroll through the aisles with different pals, seeing what catches their eye, what inspires and wows them, and what they eventually choose to take home with them - in the form of a purchase, a new connection, or the memory of seeing something face to face they never dreamed to get so close to. I love to read the texts later in the day, the newfound feelings of magic and inspiration to be used for new projects and collaborations.
I really so very much adore my bookseller friends, and have become so grateful and fond of Susan Benne, Executive Director of the ABAA (Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association of America) and Sunday Steinkirchner, Chair of the Book Fair, and also co-owner of B&B Rare Books, who had their booth next to Sanctuary this year, a fun one-stop shop for me to visit. It’s been wonderful to grow close with them since last year when I became the Founding Ambassador, and to find ways both to collaborate professionally and also to laugh together. I’m sure there is so much more ahead that we can’t even imagine yet.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this weekend so wonderful.
Looking forward to next year! <3 <3
Thank you to everyone for reading!! Please share anything you like in the comments - about anything! The book fair, your favorite books and collection pieces, writers, illustrators, bookshops, collectors, museums, anything at all.
Have a wonderful day!!
The book fair was amazing, as always. There were so many people and so many amazing items. I did a bustling live video on preview night and returned two more times to take more detailed pictures of the items. It was great seeing you there, as always. Again, thank you for bringing this fair to my attention last year. It is now a 'must-see' every year.
I was so happy to attend this year! I was sick last year and had to miss it! I bought a copy of Allen’s Airplane Dreams and a vintage French print and Japanese print. There’s something affordable for everyone and countless treasures regardless of the material value. Thanks to you and your Mom for always extolling the importance of reading, owning and collecting books. 🙏🫶