Comment du Jour

1 May

Of Books and the Rites of Spring

The New York Antiquarian Book Fair remains one of those Rites of Spring which just seems to improve. Celebrating it's 50th anniversary, the event which Andy Rooney of CBS TV called "The Best Bookshow in the World," most certainly lives up to its reputation among collectors and scholars alike.


Some 200 rare book and map dealers from the USA and Europe converged at the storied Park Avenue Armory and in my opinion despite the economy, revived the elusive magic of antique shows. Not only was the venue crowded, but patrons were buying!

Whether it was the sought-after first editions, the rare maps, or the illuminated manuscripts on vellum, the Book Fair has become a jewel in the treasure chest of antique shows.


For example, Frederik Muller Rare Books, from the Netherlands, offered the rare Maximilianus Transylvanus: de Moluccis Insulis (Cologne, 1523). The book cites the first reporting of Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe.
The same Dutch dealer also exhibited a rare Wang Qi Chinese atlas from 1660

Lux Mentis Booksellers, a Maine, merchant had a first edition of Herman Melville's Moby Dick in a full leather case. Seth Kaller of White Plains New York offered a wonderful array of Americana including a signed George Washington letter written at Headquarters during military operations in 1780.

Transatlantic commercial relations seemed to prosper at the Fair with large numbers of booksellers from Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands.

An interesting Fair with interesting people. Bravo!