The three German-speaking associations say the online initiative, called Folium Digital, allows them to “bundle their resources and reach out to collectors and the trade in a new format”.
The fair platform, which is bilingual in German and English, also offers exhibitors and visitors from non-German-speaking regions and countries the opportunity to participate.
The event has already received registrations from dealers in the UK – including Shapero Rare Books, Daniel Crouch Rare Books and Peter Harrington Rare Books – and in the US, Netherlands, Belgium and Israel, as well as dealers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Fresh approach
“This response shows that our approach of offering digital fairs and thus providing dealers and above all collectors and institutions with their own trading platforms has been well received,” said Sibylle Wieduwilt, president of the German antiquarian booksellers’ association, VDA.
Michael Steinbach, president of the Austrian association VDAÖ, added: “Virtual fairs have dominated the international antiquarian book trade since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Collectors and dealers find each other and the books at virtual fairs.
“We want to remain positive and set new impulses in these difficult times and try in this way to open up the world of beautiful and rare books to an even larger audience.”
Twenty vision
The first Folium Digital fair starts on June 10 and runs online until June 12.
All participating antiquarian bookshops and galleries can display up to 20 objects each and illustrate them with up to 10 photos – see the website below.
