One of the world’s most significant rare book fairs – the 50th California International Antiquarian Book Fair – is due to take place in February in Oakland.
Some dealers who are based outside California are concerned.
Jennifer Larson of Jeffrey H Marks Rare Books in Rochester, New York, told ATG: “We would not have signed up for a California book fair if we had known about this law at the time. I know dealers who are planning to bring nothing that is signed.”
She added: “I do not yet know what our plan is; we may withdraw from the fair; or we may bring only signed items acquired in the trade, so that furnishing one of these obnoxious certificate of authenticity (COA) will not violate the privacy of our sources.”
Michael Hackenberg, of Californian based Hackenberg Booksellers, is the current chair of the California International Antiquarian Book Fair. He insisted the fair had not been effected as the organisers are providing a generic certificate of authenticity for exhibitors.
Michael Hackenberg of Hackenberg Booksellers.
He said: “Our vetted exhibitors already stand behind any autographed material which they offer to the public.”
But he admitted the new legislation is “a pain, brought on by legislative naivete.”
Susan Benne of Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America.
Susan Benne, executive director of Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, said: “We aim to work with the legislature to amend the law so that consumers are protected, but that small businesses are not harmed.”
