In-Person Book Fairs Have Come Roaring Back!

In-Person Book Fairs Have Come Roaring Back!

Saturday, Mar 19, 2022

We've all been waiting so long for this to happen....

Those of you who live in the greater San Francisco Bay Area most likely heard about the ABAA International Antiquarian Book Fair which was held February 11th through the 13th at the Oakland Marriott.

Over 100 antiquarian booksellers from around the world came to exhibit - and even through the masks everyone was wearing, smiles were evident in all areas of the exhibit hall.

From the hour the doors opened on Friday, the hall was filled with people happy to once again be at a REAL, LIVE book fair.  To see the books in person - to touch them, to look at them, to (perhaps even?) smell them.  To be thrilled at the serendipitous find - that book one never know existed but, upon seeing, knew one had to have.

While I remain a proponent of the virtual book fairs which were the only way to have a fair when the world shut down due to Covid, and I hope to see them remain as a component of future fairs, there is nothing that can replace the experience of physically attending a fair.

Swan's Fine Books has signed up for at least a half-dozen book fairs this year, including Sacramento, Palm Springs, Portland, and - hopefully - our first international fair, as we're hoping to exhibit at Firsts London in September.

Keep an eye on the "events" page on our web site, and if you're within driving distance of any of these fairs, please come and stop by our booth!