Bay Area Book Collector Events
- By Bruce McKinney
California's largest antiquarian book fair
By Bruce McKinney
The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America is hosting its annual west coast book fair in San Francisco February 13 to 15 at Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 Eighth Street, south of Market near the San Francisco Design Center. The ABAA, as it is known, also hosts events in Boston and New York. Exhibitors include members of its international counterpart, the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This year more than 230 booksellers are exhibiting. Such fairs are a time-honored tradition.
On Saturday the fair is sponsoring talks by Nicolas Barker on the impact of the computer of books, libraries and book-collecting, Peter Hiller on Jo Mora's creative writing, and Gary and K. D. Kurtz on "California Calls You - The Art of Promoting the Golden State, 1870-1940."
On Sunday, as in past years, there will be "Discovery Day," the opportunity to have rare book appraisers offer opinions on material you bring for evaluation. There will also be talks on "Book Collecting 101" and "What's This Book Worth?"
Such book fairs provide opportunities for dealers and collectors, who are otherwise distant, to meet locally. Collectors who attend are able to meet specialist dealers and to see important materials first hand.
While the show is three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - desirable material often sells on the first day.
Substantial parking is available next door. Buses run nearby.
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Bay Area Book Collector Events
- By Bruce McKinney
In recent years as many as three auctions have been held in the Bay Area during 'show' week. This year Bonhams & Butterfields and PBA [Pacific Book Auctions] are holding auctions while fair-goers are in town. B & B is offering 200 lots on the 15th under the banner, "Fine Books & Manuscripts." PBA's sale includes 154 lots of "Rare Books & Manuscripts" on February 19th. Both sales are fully searchable online.
On Sunday morning, the 18th, from 8:00 to 11:00 am the Americana Exchange is hosting an open house and exhibition on "Wiki Bibliographies - the collections they become." The address is 2723 Pacific Ave. in the Pacific Heights section of San Francisco. The zip for online mapping is 94115. Click here for directions from the ABAA Fair site to 2723 Pacific Ave. If you are planning to come, you can let us know by sending a message through this form: click here, or by phone at 415.823.6678. However, you may just show up Sunday morning without an RSVP and you will still be most welcome!
The city, as is the state and nation, is experiencing significant economic slowdown. Hotel rooms and dinner reservations are marginally more available.
Links:
Bonhams & Butterfields February 15th Auction.
Pacific Book Auctions February 19th Auction.
The ABAA fair site.
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