In Pursuit of the Serious Collector
- By Bruce McKinney
Sophie Schneideman of London - travelling the globe in pursuit of the new collector
At the book fairs on the American West Coast this past month the English were out in force. Other European countries were represented but the English presence was exceptional. It seems the country that pioneered the global economy in the 19th century, is updating the export story in the 21st. At the Antiquarian Book, Print & Paper Fair in San Francisco eight English dealers participated. At the ABAA fair in Pasadena a week later thirty-two UK dealers displayed. The brief explanation – “this is a very good way to meet new clients and in the new economy we find serious clients live almost everywhere.” Add to this the American fascination with all things British and European and the logic of participation becomes clear.
Those exhibiting at the San Francisco fair:
Any Amount of Books
London
Frances Edwards
Hay on Wye, Hereford
Paul Foster
London
Robert Frew Ltd
London
Peter Harrington Antiquarian Books
London
Lucius Books
York
Sophie Schneideman Rare Books
London
Unsworth’s Antiquarian Books
London
Those exhibiting at the ABAA Pasadena fair:
Simon Beattie
Blackwell’s rare Books
Bow Windows Book shop
Pablo Bucher
Leo Cadogen Rare Books Limited
Deborah Coltham Rare Books
Daniel Crouch Rare Books LLP
Christopher Edwards
Francis Edwards Booksellers
Paul Foster Books
Robert Frew Ltd.
R. A. Gekoski Bookseller
Adrian Harrington Rare Books
Peter Harrington Antiquarian Bookseller
Howes Bookshop
Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers
Jonkers Rare Books
Lucius Books
Maggs Bros. Ltd
Marlborough Rare Books Ltd.
David Miles Books
Pickering & Chatto
John Price Antiquarian Books
Bernard Quarich
Reg & Philip Remington
Sangorski and Sutcliffe
Sophie Schneideman Rare Books
Sims Reed Ltd.
Sokol Books Ltd.
Benjamin Spademan
Upsworth’s Booksellers
W. P. Watson Antiquarian Books
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In Pursuit of the Serious Collector
- By Bruce McKinney
Derek McDonnell introducing Anthony Payne as Hordern's UK representative
I asked several English dealers about it and they said essentially the same thing. Europeans have their hands full these days. Sales at home are down while sales overseas are up. So they go on the road and from what we can tell are succeeding. In April many of these dealers will also be exhibiting in New York at the ABAA or satellite fair.
Other countries were also represented at the Pasadena fair:
Australia
Hordern House Rare Books
Douglas Stewart Fine Books
Austria
Antiquariat Michael Steinbach
Canada
Aquila Books
Helen R. Kahn & Assoc., Inc
Wilfrid M. de Freitas, Bookseller
Denmark
Herman H. J. Lynge & Son A/S
Sophia Rare Books
France
Librairie Ancienne des Trois Islets
Libraire Alain Brieus
Rodolphe Chamonal
Germany
Antiquariat Michael Banzhaf
Antiquariat Reinhold Berg
Antiquariat Michael Kuehn
Antiquariat Hans Lindner
Antiquariat Manfred Nosbusch
Italy
Philobiblon Roma
The Netherlands
Antiquariaat Forum B.V.
Leen Helmink Antique Maps
For east coast book collectors these dealers and others coming to exhibit from around the world are each in themselves a good reason to attend the New York fairs. Rare Books are not often offered anymore on Main or High Street. These days book fairs are the main thoroughfares for booksellers. The booksellers understand this very well. The web is powerful but to connect with dealers the shows are essential.
Links to the two recent west coast fairs and the one coming up in April in New York:
SF Book Fair
ABAA Pasadena Fair
ABAA New York Fair
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