Book Fairs | May 18, 2023

The Stuttgart Rare Book Fair Returns for 2023

Rare Book Fair Stuttgart

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Stuttgart Rare Book Fair returns after the pandemic, running June 16-18, 2023, in the city of Ludwigsburg.

Germany's leading fair for the rare book and prints trade was founded in 1962 and has been an annual meeting place for the German trade but also for international visitors and exhibitors. Due to ongoing renovation work and pandemic-related postponements at its traditional venue, the fair will be held this year in Ludwigsburg's Forum am Schlosspark, in close proximity to its traditional location in Stuttgart.

A total of 59 rare bookshops and galleries will present the entire spectrum of the rare book and graphic arts trade at the Stuttgart Rare Book Fair. In addition to the German participants, the German Association of Antiquarian Booksellers also welcomes numerous international exhibitors this year, rare booksellers from Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom and Denmark.

"Finally, a fair again!" said Dr. Markus Brandis, Chairman of the German Antiquarian Booksellers Association, "This simple phrase has been heard again and again in conversations in the trade over the past few weeks. After a three year interruption, compensated for by two virtual trade fairs, the fair will once again be the highlight of our trade. It is a feast for book gourmets! Rare booksellers have prepared a wonderful meal for all bibliophiles and laid the table lavishly. Let yourself be tempted to devour great literature in splendid first editions, wander through the fascinating world of old prints from all fields of knowledge and all times. Rare prints, manuscripts, autographs, manuscripts will make your eyes light up - and certainly whet your appetite."

EOS Buchantiquariat Benz

Der Rupsen Begin by Maria Sibylla Merian, her groundbreaking 17th centurty study of insects

Antiquariat Bibermuehle

The monumental two-volume Luther Bible, printed on vellum by Hans Lufft in Wittenberg (1558-)1561, illustrated with a woodcut title after Lucas Cranach the Younger and very numerous woodcuts after Georg Lemberger and Hans Brosamer, is, according to the handwritten dedication page, a gift given by Elector August of Saxony to his »Rentschreiber« Johann Pyrner in 1564. On the second flyleaf is an autograph sermon by the Leipzig General Superintendent Nikolaus Selneccer, and the two imposing and completely unimpaired bindings, dated 1564, were made by the Dresden court bookbinder Brosius Faust. Of the probably six known parchment copies, only three are known today besides this one, which is also the only one that has ever been on the market in the past 460 years

Antiquariat Banzhaf

Georg Philipp Saurwein, Herbarium Vivum.This remarkable herbarium from 1748 is not only remarkable for its careful compilation, but also for its professional arrangement and description.

Antiquariat Heckenhauer

An extremely rare first edition of Hesse's Siddhartha in impeccable condition as well as a typescript of Hesse's most famous poem with the oft-quoted phrase "And there is magic in every beginning" (”Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne”) will be on offer at this year's fair.

Since 1949, the German Antiquarian Booksellers Association (Verband Deutscher Antiquare, VDA) has been an important network of the German rare book trade. The members of the association are committed to serious and professional trading in accordance with the guidelines of the international umbrella organisation, the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, ILAB.