The Empire State Rare Book and Print Fair will debut in the heart of the Empire State, New York City, October 5-7. This promises to be a book fair unlike any others you have attended. Of course, there will be exhibitors, but there will also be a long series of talks, discussions, instructions, a musical presentation, and a preview party. Promoter Fine Book Fairs founders Eve and Edward Lemon are dedicated to making fairs fun and exciting. In particular, they want to appeal to young people, the elusive next generation of collectors. Being Millennials themselves, in their 30s, they are better equipped to understand what will bring new blood to a field dominated by people in their 60s and up.
The Lemons describe their aim as “creating fun, affordable and welcoming fairs that instill the joy of books in a new generation of collectors.” Mrs. Lemon said, “As a Millennial couple, we wanted to breathe new life into the world of book collecting by making it fun, inviting, accessible and entertaining. While technology reigns supreme, there is a growing population of younger enthusiasts who have discovered a passion for books and collecting. Our fairs allow people to not only explore their passion for books, but also enjoy the entire experience.”
The show begins on Thursday afternoon, October 5, with a Preview. This is a ticketed event which gives you first access to the books. At 6:00, Ryan Miller, lead singer of the alt. rock band Guster, will perform his song Empire State, accompanied by New York Philharmonic harpsichordist Paolo Bourdigon, who will continue playing until the conclusion of the Preview at 8:00. Hors d'Ouvres, wine and canapes are included. Tickets are $125. There will also be a VIP meeting with Mr. Miller, with tickets set at $225. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Antiquarian Booksellers' Benevolent Fund.
On Friday and Saturday, there will be many talks and discussions to attend. Here is the schedule.
Friday, October 6:
12 PM – 1 PM Panel on Print Collecting with Kimberly Henrikson, Executive Director at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP), and Allison Tolman, who represents leading Japanese artists whose principal medium is paper.
1 PM – 2 PM - The Nation That Never Was with Kermit Roosevelt III, the great-great-grandson of Theodore Roosevelt and author of The Nation That Never Was and The Myth of Judicial Activism.
2 PM – 3 PM - John Milton Cooper Jr., an American historian, author, and educator who specializes in late 19th and early 20th-century American political and diplomatic history.
3 PM – 4 PM - Writing Fiction with novelist Daisy Waugh, granddaughter of Evelyn Waugh.
4 PM – 5 PM - Philosophy & Genius with David Edmonds, author of many books, including Parfit, The Murder of Professor Schlick, Would You Kill the Fat Man? and (with John Eidinow) the international bestseller Wittgenstein’s Poker.
5 PM – 6 PM - Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the son of English baronet Edward Lindsay-Hogg and glamorous Irish actress Geraldine Fitzgerald, is an author, artist and acclaimed director, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Beatles videos, including Let it Be.
6:30 PM - VIP dinner with Hugo Vickers, biographer, author, lecturer and expert on the Royal Family, the Lotos Club (Tickets $375, limited seating, available here).www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-dinner-with-hugo-vickers-tickets-701995325917
Saturday, October 7:
12 PM – 1 PM - Book Collecting with Jesse R. Erickson, Astor Curator and Department Head, Printed Books and Bindings at the Morgan Library, and Angelo J. Cifaldi, President and Managing Director of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.
1 PM – 2 PM - The Future of the Monarchy with Hugo Vickers, author and broadcaster, who has written biographies of many twentieth century figures and Royals.
2 PM – 3 PM - Peter McCrea, son of Hollywood stars Joel McCrea and Frances Dee, is the President of American Impact Capital Foundation.
3 PM - 4 PM -Poetry and Music with Christopher Peacocke, author and Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, and Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, in the University of London.
The fair will take place at St. Bartholomew's Church (St. Bart's) at 325 Park Avenue in the city.
Hours, after the Thursday Preview, are:
Friday, October 6, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 7, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Entry to the fair is $15, $10 for students, and no charge for those under 16. For both days $20. Entrance will be free after 3:00 p.m. Saturday and appraisals will be offered at that time.
Exhibitors include Adam Weinberger Rare Books, Act2Books, Anima Sola Fine Books, Appledore Books, Back Creek Books, Battledore, Ltd., Bauman Rare Books, B & B Rare Books, Bergen Book Studio, Better Read Than Dead Books, BlueMango Books and Manuscripts, Books of Wonder, Brenner's Collectable Books, Capitol Hill Books, Captain Ahab's Rare Books, Christopher's Rare Books, Colebrook Book Barn, Craig Olson Books, De Wolfe & Wood Rare Books, Dividing Line Books, Edward T. Pollack Fine Arts, Ellipsis Rare Books, E.M. Maurice Books, Enchanted Books, Faenwyl Bindery FineArt Rare Books, Imperial Fine Books, James Cummins Bookseller, Jeffrey Bergman Books, John Bale Books, Laureate Fine Books, Livres Dalleau, Lizzyyoung Bookseller, Lorne Bair Rare Books, Maggs Bros Ltd., Marc Chabot Fine Arts, Michael R. Weintraub, Inc., Owl of Athena Books, Pryor-Johnson Rare Books, Purgatory Pie Press, Rarities etc., Rodger Friedman Rare Book Studio, Sanctuary Books, The First Edition Rare Books, The Lawrence Lithography Workshop, The Verne Gallery, Timeless Tales Rare Books, Walnut Street Paper, Weinberg Modern Books, White Fox Rare Books and Antiques, William Hutchison, W. S. Cotter Rare Books, and Yesterday's Muse.
Tickets to the fair may be purchased here.
