{"id":2219,"date":"2016-04-13T09:18:56","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T17:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.tavbooks.com\/?p=2219"},"modified":"2016-04-13T09:18:56","modified_gmt":"2016-04-13T17:18:56","slug":"there-and-back-again-a-new-york-book-fair-tale-by-vic-zoschak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.tavbooks.com\/?p=2219","title":{"rendered":"There and Back Again: a New York Book Fair Tale by Vic Zoschak"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New York, New York… a hell of a town!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

So you have now attended your… what, 27th New York ABAA fair? How does it feel?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, perhaps not quite that many, but have gone, either as an exhibitor, or as an attendee, pretty much every year since becoming an ABAA member in 1995.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t exhibited at the fair since sometime in the early 2000s [2005?], so the last decade has been as a shopper, and like years past, some wonderful things were on exhibit, and I even brought home one or two!<\/span>

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What was different about the New York fair this year as opposed to years past?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In my experience, the New York fair has been a strong fair for a good while now, considered by most members to be the Association\u2019s flagship event, and, in my view, this year continued that trend.\u00a0 The Armory, at 66th & Park, is a lovely location, and perfect size, for our book fair.\u00a0 We have an international, cosmopolitan exhibitor base, and as a result, the same is true of the fair visitors\/shoppers.<\/span>

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Photo credit: John Schulman of Caliban Books<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Does it make any difference when you walk about knowing that by this time in a two years you will probably, if tradition holds, be President of the ABAA?<\/span>

Well, to some degree, for in my opinion, that position shoulders a bit more responsibility for the continued viability of the Association.\u00a0 \u00a0And the association faces a change of venue for the fair, either beginning next year, or perhaps in 2018, and so there is the uncertainty associated with a move to a new locale.\u00a0 Will it be as successful?\u00a0 We will assuredly do our best to ensure it is, but sometimes the capricious hand of fate doesn\u2019t necessarily embrace your vision of what you hope will be.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nWhat was the most interesting item you laid eyes on?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Oh my, that\u2019s so difficult to pick just one, however, since I have it in front of me as I write this answer, I will say I bought one of the most interesting things I saw-\u00a0 the first miniature book published in Ohio [1815].\u00a0 According to Rare Book Hub, one hasn\u2019t been on the market since 1964.<\/span><\/p>\n

What was the neatest item you purchased, if different from the above?<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the miniature described above, I bought a collection of 50+ British broadside ballads, mainly 19th C.\u00a0 While individually they\u2019re not particularly uncommon, to come across a cache of this number is decidedly so, and I just couldn\u2019t resist.\u00a0 It will be fun to research the individual titles, hopefully with a few or more ending up with \u201cNot previously recorded\u201d in the catalogue entry.<\/span>

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 And here come the crowds!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

What’s your usual book fair routine when you aren’t exhibiting, such as in NY or in Boston? Do you run around, eyes glued to glass cases at first…. do you saunter with a glass of wine or a manhattan and allow the items to come to you (by knowledgeable booksellers who probably brought it with you in mind, of course)?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, on the fair opening, I walk the aisles to see who is exhibiting, while letting serendipity catch my eye.\u00a0 During this meandering, I tend to make it a point to stop with colleagues who I know will most likely have the unusual, non-dust jacket material that I find so interesting.\u00a0 This year was no different.<\/span><\/p>\n

How were the shadow fairs?<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to the ABAA\u2019s annual meeting being held Saturday mid-morning, I, unfor<\/span>tunately<\/span><\/span>, wasn\u2019t able to get to the Getman show uptown, but did have the opportunity to visit the 2nd shadow show, across from the Armory on Lexington.\u00a0 I did find a few things there, though not as much as in times past.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you have fun?!?!<\/span><\/p>\n

Always!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n

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