The Rochester Antiquarian Book Fair (New York) returns on September 30th for the first time since the pandemic. Among the longest continuously running (notwithstanding the pandemic) regional book fairs in the United States, it continues to attract hundreds of visitors from many backgrounds and age demographics. A wide variety of printed materials can be found, including but not limited to, Ephemera, Local History, Photographs, Signed Materials, Incunabula, Maps, and so much more.

The fair’s origins began in April of 1972 when two colleagues, a book dealer and the Director of Special Collections at the University of Rochester Rare Books Library, while having lunch together decided to inaugurate a book fair to help support the Friends of the UR Library. The early fairs were held in the Reserve Reading Room of the Rush Rhees Library and attracted up to 30 exhibitors from New York State and attendees from other states and the U.K.

Today, the Rochester Antiquarian Book Fair includes dealers from all over the East Coast and Midwest, as well as a handful of local authors. The fair has evolved to include good secondhand books--not necessarily antiquarian or rare--ephemera of all kinds and new books of local, collector or scholarly interest. Rochester boasts a large academic population and a strong background in the humanities. Collectors young and old attend the book fair each year for the chance to see and acquire interesting and one-of-a-kind literary and historical items from the world of print. It is a great opportunity for dealers in books and other printed material to meet and network with colleagues and make new connections within the community.