The ABA and PBFA rare book fairs, as well as The London Map Fair and Etc Fairs’ Bloomsbury Book Fair, will all open during the second week of June, from Thursday to Sunday, June 6-9, 2019.
Previously ‘out of sync’
The organisers of the map fair, which has historically taken place on that weekend, said: “We have always believed that London in June is one of the best times of year to be selling maps, books and other antiques in the capital.”
After intensive negotiations with its new Battersea venue, the ABA has been able to secure the same weekend and the other fairs have followed suit.
Cecil Court dealer Tim Bryars, one of the map fair organisers, told ATG that the exhibitor response was already “enormously strong and positive. We’ve been out of sync with the other fairs for years and we’ve continued to flourish, but we are excited by this opportunity to bring everyone together.”
“We now have a four-day-long festival of book fairs in June
The ABA fair, which has been rebranded Firsts – London’s Rare Book Fair, ran in late May this year in its new home in Battersea Evolution. It will run from June 7-9, while the PBFA London Antiquarian Book Fair, which has traditionally taken place concurrently, will be at its usual venue, the IBIS hotel on Lillie Road, from June 6-7.
The Bloomsbury Book Fair takes place on Sunday, June 9.
“We’re delighted to have a four-day-long festival of fairs during the traditional June dates that avoids school and bank holidays and gives more time for visitors to see, handle and buy books,” said ABA secretary Camilla Szymanowska.
