Antiquarian book fairs & rare book events calendar

For the first time in more than a decade, antiquarian book fairs return to the Golden Gate City with Rare Books San Francisco! Presenting the finest antiquarian booksellers, ephemera, and map dealers from all over the world, this exciting event takes place February 3-5, 2023, at The Hibernia, a recently restored, historic former bank building. Directly across the street is The Proper, the official hotel partner of Rare Books San Francisco, which was recently named one of the best hotels in the city by Forbes magazine.

When: 3 - 5 February, 2023
Where: The Hibernia, 1 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: 4pm to 7pm (Friday); 10am to 6pm (Saturday); 11am to 4pm (Sunday)

The 2023 California Antiquarian Book Fair will take place from 10 - 12 February at the Pasadena Convention Centre. More information will be available shortly. Registrations for exhibitors start in August 2022. The three-day event features the collections and rare treasures of booksellers from around the globe, including manuscripts, modern first editions, children’s books, ephemera, maps and autographs, as well as antiquarian books on a vast array of topics.

When: 10 - 12 February, 2023
Where: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: 3pm to 8pm (Friday); 11am to 7pm (Saturday); 11am to 4pm (Sunday)

The Palazzo Pisani Revedin Cultural Centre, established in 2020 on the initiative of Armenian cultural-manager Samuel Baghdassarian, with its fascinating and spacious exhibition halls for multifunctional use, promotes artistic and cultural initiatives of various kinds, with the aim of enhancing culture in its many forms, starting with the old traditions and those of painting, literature and music. Our knowledge and tradition in printing is centuries old and is part of all that Armenian world that gave great impetus to Venetian printing.

In fact, the antiquarian Armenian print works of Venice have a long history. Once, in Venice, the tradition of printing could be visited at the printer's museum on the beautiful Island of San Lazzaro located right in Venice, the city that was the capital of printing in the 16th century. The Palazzo Pisani Revedin Cultural Centre is pleased to organise from 10 to 12 February, at the 300 square metres of the Palazzo Pisani Revedin, in the historic centre of Venice and with the collaboration of ALAI, an Antiquarian Book and Print Fair titled: Antiquarian Booksellers in Venice - Palazzo Pisani Revedin.

When: 10 - 12 February, 2023
Where: Palazzo Pisani Revedin, Campo Manin, Venice, Italy
Opening Hours: 2pm to 8pm (Friday); 10.30am to 8pm (Saturday); 10.30am to 5pm (Sunday)

Welcome to the PBFA's fabulous February Book Fair extravaganza. Some old dealers, some new faces and a huge quantity of collectable and decorative printed material.

When: 17 - 18 February, 2023
Where: The Guildhall, Market Square, Cambridge, CB2 3QJ, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 12pm to 6pm (Friday), 10am to 5pm (Saturday)

More information to come.

When: 11 - 12 March, 2023
Where: Fredsgatan 12, Stockholm, Sweden
Opening Hours: 11am to 5pm (Saturday); 11am to 4pm (Sunday)

Free admission. Everybody welcome. Jointly organized by the PBFA and ABA. Members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA) will also be offering books for sale. The image is of The Royal Mile which is the historic heart of Edinburgh and also the stretch of road connecting Edinburgh Castle with Holyrood Palace, the royal residence in Scotland.

When: 24 - 25 March, 2023
Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, 80 High STreet, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 12pm to 7pm (Friday), 10am to 4pm (Saturday)

Join us in the center of the nation's capital for a fair featuring 15 art and print dealers from across the United States. The Venue: The University Club attracts members and guests from both the national and international communities. With warm fellowship among members, well appointed facilities, and family-friendly ambiance "the mansion on Sixteenth Street" continues as a popular meeting place and retreat for members and guests in our vibrant nation's capital.

When: 31 March - 2 April , 2023
Where: The University Club, 1135 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: Preview Night 5pm to 8pm (Friday), 10am to 5pm (Saturday), 11am to 5pm (Sunday)

With almost 100 dealers offering tens of thousands of rare, collectable and second-hand books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera, the Oxford Book Fair frequently attracts the attention of both local and national press. A great two-day fair for all book lovers young and old. Our book dealers have travelled from different parts of the country and will have something to suit everyone at prices starting from £2 up to the £1000's. Cafe on site.

When: 22 - 23 April, 2023
Where: Oxford Brookes University, Headington Hill Campus, Oxford, OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 12pm to 6pm (Saturday), 10am to 4pm (Sunday)

The 63rd New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is now scheduled to take place from 27 - 30 April 2023. Both American and international exhibitors will offer a rich selection of manuscripts, unique ephemera, artist books, zines, as well as early American and European literature, modern first editions, children’s books, maps, autographs, photographs, and more.

When: 27 - 30 April, 2023
Where: Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, New York, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: Preview 5pm to 8pm (Thursday), 12pm to 8pm (Friday), 12pm to 7pm (Saturday); 12pm to 5pm (Sunday)

Whether you're a collector looking for the next pasterpiece to ad to your library, or a bibliophile who loves browsing second-hand classics, Firsts London is the book fair for you. Discover titles by distinguished authors, ephemera from celebrity readers and manuscripts from history's great moments, all in the heart of Chelsea.

When: 18 - 21 May, 2023
Where: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's Square, King's Road, London SW3 4RY, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 5pm to 9pm (Thursday), 11am to 8pm (Friday), 11am to 6pm (Saturday); 11am to 5pm (Sunday)

One of the PBFA's largest premier antiquarian book fairs featuring more than 100 UK and international booksellers showcasing rare books, maps, prints, ephemera, collector items and more to suit all pockets! There will be a range of specialisms, from Modern First Editions, Children’s Literature, History, Travel, Sport, Religion to name but a few! FREE admission. Refreshments available on site.

When: 20 - 21 May, 2023
Where: ILEC Conference Centre, IBIS London Earls Court, 47 Lillie Road, London, SW6 1UD, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 1pm to 7pm (Saturday), 10am to 4pm (Sunday)

The Georgetown Rare Book Fair will bring antiquarian booksellers from across the country to Washington DC's historic City Tavern Club. The fair will open with a preview night on Friday evening with wine, beer, special literary-themed cocktails, canapes, musical entertainment and first access to the books on sale in this historic venue dating back to 1796. Located in the heart of Georgetown at the intersection of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, the City Tavern Club has long been a center of activity in the city.

When: 19 - 21 May, 2023
Where: The City Tavern Club (Georgetown), 3206 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: Preview Night (ticketed) 5pm to 8pm (Friday), 11am to 6pm (Saturday), 10am to 4pm (Sunday)

Mantova Libri Mappe Stampe inherits the tradition of the longest-running Italian event dedicated to the world of antiquarian books and prints – Il Frontespizio, renowned exhibition created in 1975 in Mantua – with the aim of promoting and spreading the passion for ancient papers. Over 50 exhibitors, coming from Italy and abroad, confirm their presence at this well-established event, including antiquarian bookshops and professionals in the fields of antiquarian printing and cartography.

When: 20 - 21 May, 2023
Where: Museo Diocesano F. Gonzaga (cloisters), Piazza Virgiliana, 55, 46100 Mantova MN, Italy
Opening Hours: 10am to 6.30pm (Saturday), 9.30am to 1pm (Sunday)

The venue: The congregation was gathered as Newport's First Congregational Church in 1695. The current structure was built in 1857 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012.

When: 2 - 4 June, 2023
Where: Newport Congregational Church, 75 Pelham St, Newport, RI 02840, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: Preview Night (ticketed) 4pm to 7pm (Friday), 11am to 6pm (Saturday), 11am to 5pm (Sunday)

After the cancellation of the 2020, 2021 and even the 2022 Salon du Mont des Arts, the antiquarian booksellers' association of Belgium, CLAM, invites all booksellers and book collectors back to Brussels! Over 40 European exhibitors usually take part in the fair which is organized under the auspices of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB). The fair venue is located close to the Bibliothèque Nationale and Brussels' finest museums in the heart of the city.

When: 15 - 17 June, 2023
Where: Ecuries royales de l'Académie royale de Belgique, 4 Place du Trône, Brussels, Belgium
Opening Hours: Preview 5pm to 9pm (Thursday), 11am to 8pm (Friday), 11am to 6pm (Saturday)

The 60th Stuttgart Antiquarian Book Fair will take place from 16 to 18 June 2023 at the Forum am Schlosspark, Ludwigsburg. This means that for the first time the fair will move from the end of January to June, which provides greater certainty of the event being held against the overall background of the pandemic situation in winter, which is expected to be critical again. Since the premises of the Württembergischer Kunstverein in Stuttgart are only available to a very limited extent, if at all, due to ongoing renovation work, the German antiquarian booksellers association consulted its members and reached a large majority supporting this change of date and location. The scheduling was done in agreement with the Antiquaria Fair in Ludwigsburg, so that the Association of German Antiquarian Booksellers can now look forward to a successful and parallel staging of both fairs.

When: 16 - 18 June, 2023
Where: Forum am Schlosspark, Stuttgarter Str. 33, Ludwigsburg, Germany

The PBFa is very pleased to announce our new two-day Premier book fair at Brockholes Nature Reserve at Samlesbury near Preston. Forty PBFA members will be offering vintage, antiquarian and second-hand books, and other printed material for sale. Free parking and admission. Image credit Les Price.

When: 7 - 8 July, 2023
Where: Meadow Lake Suite, Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston New Road, Preston, PR5 0AG, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 12pm to 5pm (Friday), 10am to 4pm (Saturday)

The Australian & New Zealand Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ANZAAB) has announced its 2023 fair dates: the Melbourne Rare Book Fair will be held from 27 - 29 July 2023 at Wilson Hall, the University of Melbourne. This will be Australia’s 50^th Antiquarian Book Fair! The ANZAAB organisers hope that ILAB colleagues and book collectors will make the journey ‘down under’ to celebrate this anniversary together. If you wish to spend time beyond the book fair, Melbourne is also a listed UNESCO City of Literature; home to writers, independent publishers and bookstores as well as Australia’s oldest public library, the State Library of Victoria, founded in 1854. And if that’s not enough, Melbourne is a mecca for sports fans and a gastronomic paradise with restaurants galore and five world class wine regions within an hour’s drive of the Fair.

When: 27 - 29 July, 2023
Where: Wilson Hall, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Opening Hours: To be announced

From modest beginnings with just 20 exhibitors at the White Swan Inn in York in 1974, the York National Book Fair has grown into the largest, and many say friendliest, rare, antiquarian & out-of-print book fair in the UK and Europe. At the York September Book Fair, you will find books over 500 years old, be able to review copies of recently published works, and everything in between. The book fair will take place at York Racecourse. This venue is very easy to reach, there is unlimited free parking, and also a free shuttle bus from the Railway Station (Memorial Gardens) to the Fair every 20 minutes.

When: 15 - 16 September, 2023
Where: The Knavesmire Suite, York Racecourse, York, YO23 1EX, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 12pm to 7pm (Friday), 10am to 5pm (Saturday)

The French antiquarian booksellers' association is pleased to announce that the Paris Rare Book and Graphic Arts Fair, organized by the Syndicat national de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (SLAM), will be held from 22^nd to 24^th September 2023. This major gathering for collectors, amateurs and the curious, will take place in the Grand Palais Ephémère, a temporary structure which houses the most emblematic Parisian cultural events while the Grand Palais itself is closed for renovations. Perfectly situated between the Ecole Militaire and the Eiffel Tower, the building fits elegantly into the prestigious Champ-de-Mars site and is easily accessed by public transport. A reference event for books and works on paper, bringing together booksellers, autograph dealers, print and drawing galleries, specialist publishers and book artisans. From the oldest works to the most surprising contemporary avant-gardes, thousands of documents reveal the magic of our written and graphic heritage.

When: 22 - 24 September, 2023
Where: Grand Palais Éphémère, Champ-de-Mars, place Joffre, 75007, Paris, France
Opening Hours: 11am to 8pm (Friday, Saturday), 11am to 6pm (Sunday)

At the Dialogue Vintage Photo Fair, a great variety of vintage photos and photo books will be for sale. Collectors and dealers from around the world will bring their latest acquisitions in the field of vintage photography (1839 – c.1990). Several book dealers will offer an interesting selection of collectible photo books and reference materials.

When: 23 September, 2023
Where: CEC Amsterdam, Bijlmerdreef 1289, 1103 TV Amsterdam, Netherlands

All aboard for the first antiquarian book fair at Los Angeles’ historic Union Station! Presenting leading specialists in antiquarian books, ephemera, and map, this exciting event takes place October 7 and 8, 2023, in the historic Ticket Concourse at Union Station, the backdrop for numerous classic films and television shows as well as the 2021 Academy Awards. Union Station is transit friendly, offers ample affordable parking, and is close to numerous restaurants and hotels. In conjunction with the book fair, Angel City Press is offering a series of presentations by authors of the publisher’s award-winning books.

When: 7 - 8 October, 2023
Where: Union Station, 800 North Alameda Street , Los Angeles, CA 90012, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm (Saturday), 11am to 4pm (Sunday)

This year’s edition of the Amsterdam International Antiquarian Book Fair will be held on October 13-14 at the Zuiderkerk in Amsterdam.

When: 13 - 14 October, 2023
Where: Zuiderkerkhof 72, 1011 WB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Opening Hours: 13pm to 10pm (Friday), 11am to 6pm (Saturday)

The 2023 Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair will take place in the beautiful Baillie Court at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Featuring the foremost Canadian and International antiquarian book, map and print sellers, the Fair now in its 51st year, will showcase a wide ranging selection of antiquarian and vintage books, maps, prints, manuscript, photographs and ephemera. Whether you are an experienced or novice book collector, a librarian or an archivist, a scholar or an academic, or are simply interested in books and the book arts in general, you will be bound to find something to your taste. We invite you to visit the fair, explore the booths, and purchase the treasures on display.

When: 20 - 23 October, 2023
Where: Art Gallery of Ontario, Baillie Court, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Canada
Opening Hours: 5pm to 9pm (Friday), 10.30am to 5.30pm (Saturday), 12pm to 5pm (Sunday)

The Boston Book Fair is the annual fall gathering for book lovers and collectors, featuring the top selection of items available on the international literary market. Mark your calendars for the 45th annual gathering of U.S. and international dealers, sanctioned by the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers.

When: 27 - 29 October, 2023
Where: Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: To be announced

After several years of moving the dates due to the COVID crisis, the ABA's Chelsea Antiquarian Book Fair is moving back to its traditional date in November, still taking place in the beautiful and historic Chelsea Old Town Hall.

When: 3 - 4 November, 2023
Where: Chelsea Old Town Hall, London SW3 5EE, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: 2pm to 7pm (Friday), 11am to 5pm (Saturday);

The Spanish antiquarian booksellers' association AILA has been organising rare book fairs, alternating between Madrid and Barcelona, since 1992. The fair will take place again in the iconic Salon de Cristal of the Madrid City Hall, complemented by an exhibition on antique photographs of Madrid. Booksellers will showcase a selection of manuscripts, rare books, prints and maps from the 15th to the 20th century.

When: 23 - 26 November, 2023
Where: Madrid Town Hall, Salon de Cristal - Ayuntamiento de Madrid, Plaza Cibeles, Madrid, Spain
Opening Hours: To be announced

The Philadelphia Rare Book Fair will return to Trinity Memorial Church in the heart of the city. The fair will open with a preview night on Thursday evening with wine, canapes, musical entertainment and first access to the books on sale in this historic venue. Friday and Saturday will be open to the public free of charge.

When: 7 - 9 December, 2023
Where: Trinity Memorial Church, 2212 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, U.S.A.
Opening Hours: Preview Night (ticketed) 5pm to 8pm (Thursday), 11am to 6pm (Friday), 10am to 5pm (Saturday)