Jointly launched by the antiquarian booksellers' associations of Switzerland, Austria and Germany, the fair opens next Thursday, 10 June.
More than 80 antiquarian bookshops and galleries from Austria, Switzerland and Germany, together with numerous international colleagues, will offer treasures of book art, autographs, illustrated works and graphics on a virtual fair platform.
"The response from dealers, whether from German-speaking or international countries, shows that our associations' way of offering virtual fairs and thus providing dealers and, above all, collectors and institutions with their own trading platforms has been gladly accepted. The pandemic has shown us new ways; the German-speaking associations have developed a sales platform in wonderful teamwork and thus started an attempt to do justice to everyone; first and foremost to our customers, whom we can thus meet with digital offers and offer one of the most classic analogue products in this form," says Sibylle Wieduwilt, Chairwoman of the Board of the Association of German Antiquarian Booksellers.
The virtual book fair will start on 10 June 2021 at 2 pm German time.
The merchandise of all exhibitors will be released at 2 p.m. on 10 June and will be accessible up to and including 12 June, when the platform, like a real fair, will be closed again.
Michael Steinbach, President of the Association of Antiquarian Booksellers of Austria: "The trust of customers in digital platforms has become established in recent years; goods in all price ranges are offered online, also at the upcoming folium Antiquarian Book Fair. Whether established collectors or first-time explorers, we hope with this fair to be able to once again show our world of beautiful books to a larger circle. There are no travel costs here and no borders to cross."
The fair platform is bilingual in German and English and thus offers exhibitors and visitors, also from non-German speaking regions and countries, the opportunity to participate.
"We are honoured to welcome companies from France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, the USA or even Israel to the fair. Everyone, the collectors and the trade, benefit from this diversity of exhibitors and products but also from the general resulting positive impulse." --Peter Bichsel, Chairman of the Association of Antiquarian Booksellers and Engravers in Switzerland.
