Strong Sales & Record Attendance at New York International Antiquarian Book Fair 2023

The ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair (NYIABF) successfully returned to the Park Avenue Armory for its 63rd edition in New York City.
 
Over 1,500 visitors flowed into the Park Avenue Armory throughout the evening to enjoy offerings from nearly 200 exhibitors from around the world, continuing to live up to its reputation as a highly international fair.
 
The fair organizers cited an 15% increase in attendance compared to 2022 numbers, making the 63rd edition of the NYIABF the most successful iteration of the fair in at least the past decade, both in terms of sales and attendance.
 
There was also a noted uptick in younger collectors and visitors.
 
The NYIABF cited major sales from various dealers during opening night:

• Ursus Books, Ltd. sold a whimsical children’s book signed El Pintor that was a success in the Netherlands during World War II, created by a Jewish couple who used the proceeds to help the resistance. The Dutch collector plans to donate the piece to the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam.
• Peter Harrington Rare Books had strong sales so far, including the transaction of a six-figure item. There has also been interest in Williams Shakespeare’s Folios, in particular the 3rd Folio.
• James Gray Booksellers sold three pieces, including Albertus Magnus Secretis mulierum et Viroru(m), “one of the most influential documents in the history of medieval scientific attitudes toward women”.
• B&B Rare Books sold an original drawing by E.H. Shepard of Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows and a first edition of Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L. Travers.
• Kate Mitas sold an archive of a civil rights activist who worked with CORE in Mississippi in the mid-1960s, who then became involved in the women's and gay liberation movements in San Francisco.
• Henry Sotheran, Ltd. sold about $9,000 to trade, $2,000 to private clients and received interest for the $67,000 set of Winnie The Pooh books.
• Autographes des Siècles sold an assortment of French literature letters and received strong interest in two offerings: a set of drawings by late designer Karl Lagerfeld and his letter of René Descartes, priced at $200.000.
• Adrian Harrington Rare Books sold several of their Agatha Christie collection of books.
• Imperial Fine Books sold items with prices ranging from $4,500-$20,000, including a signed and illustrated copy by Kay Nielsen of Hansel And Gretel and a set of Nicholay and Hay’s Abraham Lincoln Works and Benjamin Franklin’s work.
• Eric Chaim Kline, Ltd. received an order last night for Theresienstadt (concentration camp) currency.
• Tamino Autographs, Inc. sold around $72,000, including an original photo of John Lennon taken the day of his assassination.
• Schubertiade Music & Arts (At “B” Dry Goods”) sold an important musical manuscript from the library of Marie Antoinette and the double signed score from Fiddler on the Roof.
• Fine Art & Rare Books sold Iliazd’s Poésie des mots inconnus, a rare Czech poster and a unique Soviet industrial product catalog, among other pieces.
• Walter Reuben, Inc. reported great fortune with interest in their offerings of Women in Film, Black film History and classic Hollywood.

Notable guests including Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine, John Derian, Gherardo Guarducci, Guillaume Kientz, David Hamond, Alexander Cunningham Cameron, Jill Krementz, Dalia Oberlander, Caroline Nation and Antonio Pio Saracino.
 
Bibliophiles everywhere are invited to continue the hunt for rare books and all manner of fine works on paper as the NYIABF continues through April 30.