Book Fairs

Fairs have become a main source of business for many booksellers. These range from high-end fairs such as Firsts London where the rarest books are typically offered, to more relaxed events such as the long list of those organised by the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association.

Fairs that focus on specific sectors of the books and works on paper market like maps, ephemera and photographs are also held throughout the year.


Visitors at the York National Book Fair.

‘The best book event in the whole of the UK’

29 September 2025

Dealers full of praise for annual York fair as international and trade buyers snap up their wares

Etc Fairs finds new venue in Bloomsbury

01 September 2025

Among the logistical challenges many fair organisers face is the scheduling and sometimes rescheduling of dates at their chosen venues.

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York National Book Fair ‘suits younger crowd’

25 August 2025

While a Rowntree centenary brings historic interest, exhibitors are also focused on attracting fresh faces

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Book fairs: New event fills a north-west hole

16 June 2025

Kirkby Lonsdale is the first of three fresh PBFA fairs this year with Frome and Dorchester to follow

Firsts at the Saatchi Gallery

Firsts book fair organiser delighted by the number of international buyers

02 June 2025

Event generates decent sales and a lively atmosphere during a busy weekend overall for collectors and dealers

DD 2692 5Qs Oldey Worldy Book

Firsts reports sales of over £4.7m

22 May 2025

It was a bumper weekend for collectors and dealers of antiquarian books with Firsts and the London Rare & Antiquarian Book Fair both gracing the capital.

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Firsts debut proves fruitful for dealer Ayling

19 May 2025

Books fair 'Firsts' got under way on May 15 with around 100 dealers exhibiting at the Saatchi Gallery in London.

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Bloom time for the books trade

12 May 2025

It took 16 years to compile the first great German florilegium, an edition of which can be seen – and purchased – at the Firsts London book fair running from May 15-18 at the Saatchi Gallery.

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Binding the book trade together: how associations work to protect and promote dealers

12 May 2025

Trade associations play a valuable role in representing their members, organising fairs and events and, among many other things, making sense of changes in legislation – particularly useful when US policy on tariffs seems to change every five minutes.

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Fairs: London’s May book bonanza

12 May 2025

Our look ahead at fairs coming up in the capital, including the Firsts and PBFA events held a short hop apart on the same weekend

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The appeal of association copies: a unique link to people and place

12 May 2025

Inscriptions and annotations can make a massive difference to value

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Book fairs find a new London home

12 May 2025

Etc Fairs has announced the new London location for the three autumn book events which have been changed venues due to renovation work at the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury, their regular spot.

Mckenzie & Hamilton Joseph Mckenzie Gorbals Children 1964

A selection of highlights from London's summer book and map fairs

09 May 2025

This year, the 'London Rare & Antiquarian Book Fair' will be held on May 17-18 at the ILEC Conference Centre.

Hilary Mantel's desk

Dealer offers Hilary Mantel’s desk used to write Wolf Hall trilogy

28 April 2025

Among the attractions at this year’s ‘Firsts: London’s Rare Book Fair’ on May 15-18 is the desk upon which Hilary Mantel wrote her celebrated ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy.

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Agatha Christie first edition on offer at Harrogate Book Fair

10 March 2025

To mark the new-look Harrogate Book Fair dealer Anthony Smithson of The Keel Row Bookshop in Whitley Bay will be offering for sale a 1948 first edition of the Hercule Poirot novel 'Taken At the Flood' signed by Agatha Christie.

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Book fair opportunity to celebrate Austen birthday

10 February 2025

This year is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in 1775 and among the many celebratory events is Miss Austen, a four-episode drama currently airing on BBC 1, which is based on the novelist’s sister Cassandra.

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Christmas PBFA event aims to emulate last year's success

11 November 2024

Andrew Saidi, organiser of PBFA’s 'Christmas Book Fair' in London, is confident that this year’s event will be as buoyant as that in 2023.

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Buy books in Old England and New England

28 October 2024

The ABA Chelsea Rare Book Fair will take place in its charming and traditional location: Chelsea Old Town Hall on the Kings Road.

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Time and money well spent at 50th York Book Fair

30 September 2024

The PBFA event marked its half century with a busy and successful edition

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Rare set of Victorian snowflake prints among highlights at the Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair

18 September 2024

The Toronto Toronto Antiquarian Book Fair is a literary magnet for collectors, librarians, archivists, scholars, academics and dealers.

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