MARIAB News and Upcoming Events

Massachusetts & Rhode Island Antiquarian Booksellers proceeds apace in these parlous times. Last September we met at Grey Matter Books in Hadley and approved 2 new members who have been booksellers for many years, but recently relocated to Massachusetts: Stuart Bennett Rare Books and L. & T. Respess Books, both of Northampton. In October, we sponsored the 7th Annual Pioneer Valley Book & Ephemera Fair, managed by Flaminto Eventz. We had a full house of dealers & record attendance thanks to NPR sponsorships, local advertising and postering nearby college campuses. In December we had our final meeting of the year at Bearly Read Books in Sudbury. We had our first meeting of 2012 at The Commonwealth Museum in Boston which houses the Massachusetts State Archive. We joined a tour with Director Stephen Kenney, viewed 17th century charters for the colony, the state’s copy of the first printing of the Declaration of Independence, and the manuscript of the 1780 state constitution by John Adams. We had lunch and installed new officers: Katharyn Dawson, Second Hand Prose, Acton, Secretary; Duane Stevens, Wiggins Fine Books, Shelburne Falls, Treasurer; Peter L. Masi, Montague, Vice-president; Tom Nealon, Pazzo Books, West Roxbury, President.

We are currently in the process of updating information for our 2012-2013 Directory which should be published in April. Copies are available through our website: www.MARIAB.org

We will be sponsoring the second Boston Book, Paper & Photo Exposition & Sale on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington, Massachusetts, produced by Marvin Getman, Impact Events Group. Last year we had over 70 dealers, a great gathering of special displays and seminars, very strong attendance. We already have over 50 dealers registered for this year. www.bookandpaperexpo.com