The Hands of Booksellers
Tactile Custodians of Antiquarian Books and Manuscripts
As the powerful energy of the solar eclipse engages the world in wonder, I am still held within the magic of the NY Antiquarian Book Fair which took place over this last Thursday-Sunday. As I shared in a recent post, I was given the wonderful honor of being the fair’s first ever Ambassador, which included an array of duties, responsibilities, and most glorious adventures. Today on Instagram I shared three of my proudest moments from the weekend, including (1) a panel discussion moderated on Saturday morning, (2) becoming part of the nucleus in the final hours, breaking down a booth with the other booksellers on Sunday evening, and (3) seeing three of my Substack posts printed and taped up on the official press wall!! :))
I will share more about our panel in the next post, with photos, videos, and words from the individual panelists. I was honored to have the opportunity to hold this event, and in such a stately environment as the Colonel’s Room at the Armory. :) Each person shared their knowledge and stories in such a comforting and familiar way - unfeigned thoughts that bypassed the chitter chatter to reach the deepest hearth of the heart and most hidden fields of the imagination. I’m grateful to each person and was so happy to be the igniter - like sitting at the campfire, adding kindling to the blaze, warmed by the light, and mesmerized by watching the flames dance in the air.
In today’s post, I want to share something that was on my mind through the whole weekend, starting with the Opening Preview on Thursday. That evening, as everyone arrived, buzzing with anticipation and curiosity, I walked through the Armory with Sunday Steinkirchner, Chair of the Book Fair and Owner of B&B Rare Books. As we walked down the aisles, we stopped into various booths and she introduced me one by one to the booksellers. It was wonderful to shake their hands and put faces to both their names and to the general feel of their booth and collections as a whole. With each new seller we met, Sunday gave them the same prompt: ‘okay, show us your favorite thing!’ This demand was met with 1 of 2 answers and seemingly nothing in between - either the seller would crinkle in anguish at the mere thought of needing to single out one of their treasures, saying something along the lines of, ‘how can I choose?? These are like my children!!’ On the other end, the question would be met with a swift and confident move as the seller reached for the prize jewel of their collection, whether for its historic significance, rarity, uniqueness, or for a personal or sentimental reason. We listened to descriptions and stories which bounced beautifully throughout the full spectrum of genre and era, and we took quick pictures to remember what each bookseller chose to highlight for us.
After a handful of meetings I realized that each time I took a photo of a book or manuscript, I got to witness this special and tender moment surrounding the inclusion of the bookseller’s hands. I noticed the unique way each seller would hold their books, how they delicately turned the pages like handling an insect’s wings, would point thoughtfully to special details with a slow index finger. The practiced ways in which they cared for the items, as not to crinkle or tear or leave a mark more than that of awe and admiration.
I also noticed on occasion, a touching shift of energy upon taking a photo, as though the bookseller humbly wanted to remove themselves from the picture, even when just in the form of a finger tip or graceful touch. Sometimes they would shift their position ever so slightly, and in this very nuanced and fleeting moment, nearly impossible to measure, I could feel the genuine love they had for their books. It’s a respect that’s traveled somehow into another realm, allowing space for the books to be alive, to have a body and history of their own. It’s being a present keeper for a rare and special one, and recognizing that in their custodianship, the booksellers are also responsible for the books being given the chance for a continuing and healthy future.
Today after the eclipse had passed through the US, I was walking through my neighborhood, thinking about writing this post. I started thinking about this prompt: ‘Consider the senses in relation to the book.’ First there is sight, we see a book from a distance with our eyes - noticing the details of the binding, the colors and textures, the shape and size. We notice the title and author, whether it’s something we recognize or something mysterious that draws us in. Sometimes there is the sense of smell, especially with antiquarian books, woody and faintly vanilla, a nostalgic scent which makes us inhale deeply and slowly, as if breathing in the book itself. In the case of an event like the wine+book pairing from Bibliotheque on Saturday evening, there can be taste as well, opening up the experience of the book by engaging a sense not often connected with reading. There are the realms of our extra senses, when observing a binding or reading its pages ignites our inspiration, tapping into a legion of simple and complex emotions. The power of the book and the places it can take us.
And then there is touch - when our hands bring a book into the physical realm, connecting our bodies with the body of the book. Our hands hold it for the first time, observing the details through tactile sensation, our hands turn the pages, our hands close it when we have finished reading, and then our hands place it back on the shelf, or deliver it to the one who is next to experience it. The book is alive - we connect through its information, discussing its contents, reading it aloud to ourselves or each other (sense of sound), and we also connect through the experience of touch. An antiquarian book has been held, repaired, sold, purchased, damaged, and loved by individuals we will never know the names of, but whose energy is contained within this miraculous object that outlives us all.
This post today is dedicated to the hands of the booksellers. There is so much unbelievable warmth at the book fair. So much joy. And watching the hands of the booksellers, you sense the sincerest care, the thoughtful touch of a modest admirer.
Below are pictures I took throughout the weekend. At the end of the post you can find the websites for each seller if you would like to see more of their collections. I also have pictures of solo books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, globes, and pictures of me together with booksellers and patrons, and I will share more of those soon! <3
The Hands of Booksellers from the 2024 NY Antiquarian Book Fair
‘The hand is the most frequently symbolized part of the human body. It can represent strength, power and protection as well as generosity, hospitality and stability, - and the act of ‘shaking hands’ symbolizes both greeting and friendship.
We use our hands to demand, promise, summon, dismiss, threaten, supplicate, express aversion and fear, to question and deny: we employ them to indicate joy, sorrow, hesitation, confession and penitence, to measure quantity, number and time. Hand gestures vary as symbols. They can bless, consecrate, transfer guilt and bestow healing. We raise them to swear honesty, love, adoration and salutation; clasp them to embrace peace, alliance and friendship; associate them with negligence, arrogance, purification, cleanliness and innocence. Using them we are able to excite and prohibit as well as express approval, wonder and shame.Â
It is little wonder that hands are said to speak.’Â
-Rosemary Friedman
Thank you so very much for reading this post. I would love to know your thoughts on anything - the book fair, the pictures included, the ideas posed around hands and senses, anything at all. I’ve shared a few posts about handwriting, and the first of the series of those had a lot about my own relation to books, bookbinding, book reading, and my own handwriting and hands. It’s a topic I think about often, and I would love to know if these thoughts have brought about new ones, reminded you of anything, or sparked any sort of creativity or inspiration. Please share anything you like and send any questions you have!
Links to the Booksellers Mentioned, in the Order in Which They Appeared
John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller
Eclectibles - Fine and Unusual Ephemera
Rootenberg Rare Books & Manuscripts
What a lovely post, as a former museum worker, my hands touched many very precious things, such as a Sumerian fertility figurine, a painting of Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Cranach, a wood engraving by Durer, a Rembrandt etching, a Tiffany glass vase, and a book by Kara Walker, I always felt in awe of these objects. I loved showing them off, and would stand back and let the objects speak for themselves, and because I had been there for so long, I had stories about them. Old books are such beautiful objects themselves, they're amazing, and precious. Thank you for sharing the hands of booksellers, it just reminded me of how much I loved what I used to do.
I am still in a tailspin over everything I saw and everyone I met at the fair over the four days. It really was a completely new world for me and something I would never have even considered if not for your introduction. The overwhelming feeling I took away from it, and still carry with me, is the feeling of kindness and acceptance gifted to me by everyone who took part.