Book Fairs

Fairs have become a main source of business for many booksellers. These range from high-end fairs such as Firsts London where the rarest books are typically offered, to more relaxed events such as the long list of those organised by the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association.

Fairs that focus on specific sectors of the books and works on paper market like maps, ephemera and photographs are also held throughout the year.


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Binding the book trade together: how associations work to protect and promote dealers

12 May 2025

Trade associations play a valuable role in representing their members, organising fairs and events and, among many other things, making sense of changes in legislation – particularly useful when US policy on tariffs seems to change every five minutes.

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Fairs: London’s May book bonanza

12 May 2025

Our look ahead at fairs coming up in the capital, including the Firsts and PBFA events held a short hop apart on the same weekend

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The appeal of association copies: a unique link to people and place

12 May 2025

Inscriptions and annotations can make a massive difference to value

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Book fairs find a new London home

12 May 2025

Etc Fairs has announced the new London location for the three autumn book events which have been changed venues due to renovation work at the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury, their regular spot.

Mckenzie & Hamilton Joseph Mckenzie Gorbals Children 1964

A selection of highlights from London's summer book and map fairs

09 May 2025

This year, the 'London Rare & Antiquarian Book Fair' will be held on May 17-18 at the ILEC Conference Centre.

Hilary Mantel's desk

Dealer offers Hilary Mantel’s desk used to write Wolf Hall trilogy

28 April 2025

Among the attractions at this year’s ‘Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair’ on May 15-18 is the desk upon which Hilary Mantel wrote her celebrated ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy.

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Agatha Christie first edition on offer at Harrogate Book Fair

10 March 2025

To mark the new-look Harrogate Book Fair dealer Anthony Smithson of The Keel Row Bookshop in Whitley Bay will be offering for sale a 1948 first edition of the Hercule Poirot novel 'Taken At the Flood' signed by Agatha Christie.

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Book fair opportunity to celebrate Austen birthday

10 February 2025

This year is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in 1775 and among the many celebratory events is Miss Austen, a four-episode drama currently airing on BBC 1, which is based on the novelist’s sister Cassandra.

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Christmas PBFA event aims to emulate last year's success

11 November 2024

Andrew Saidi, organiser of PBFA’s 'Christmas Book Fair' in London, is confident that this year’s event will be as buoyant as that in 2023.

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Buy books in Old England and New England

28 October 2024

The ABA Chelsea Rare Book Fair will take place in its charming and traditional location: Chelsea Old Town Hall on the Kings Road.

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Time and money well spent at 50th York Book Fair

30 September 2024

The PBFA event marked its half century with a busy and successful edition

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Rare set of Victorian snowflake prints among highlights at the Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair

18 September 2024

The Toronto Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair is a literary magnet for collectors, librarians, archivists, scholars, academics and dealers.

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Fifty years of the York book fair and PBFA foundation to celebrate

02 September 2024

From modest origins, the York event is now the largest antiquarian book fair in the UK

An Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island by John Hunter.

Crouch and Harrington set to exhibit at the Melbourne Rare Book Fair

19 July 2024

Detailed accounts from colonial settlers and a trove of radical erotica are just some of the offerings at Australia's rare book bonanza

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New chapter for Bath book event

17 June 2024

Annual fair held at the city’s Assembly Rooms since 1986 starts afresh in Pavilion venue this July

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Beautifully bound bible among stand-out sales at Firsts

10 June 2024

An 18th century folio bible in mosaic binding was among the notable sales at the recent Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair.

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Eye on the needle for Firsts fair

20 May 2024

A book elaborately illustrated with needle-work samples and commemorating Queen Victoria’s first trip to Ireland as monarch was one of the standout sales as 'Firsts London’s Rare Book Fair' opened.

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Events to look forward to: Firsts, London Map Fair, PBFA London and the Ephemera fair

13 May 2024

A wide range of dealers are set to offer a variety of items at upcoming fairs

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Booksellers team up at New York fair to sell major collection chronicling the first Europeans in America

05 April 2024

Four dealers are behind the sale of the R David Parsons collection at the New York book fair

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BAFTA awards accepted for American fair

25 March 2024

Norfolk dealer Voewood Rare Books will offer two prototype BAFTA awards at a US book fair where the UK is well represented this year.

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