A World of Books Returns to the Armory: The ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair Celebrates 66 Years

Produced by Sanford L. Smith + Associates and officially sanctioned by both the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, the fair is one of the leading events of the antiquarian book world.
For collectors, scholars, and book lovers alike, it is an unmissable highlight of the spring season.

This year’s edition will bring together >> more than 170 leading exhibitors from around the world, offering an extraordinary breadth of rare books, manuscripts, and printed treasures. From first editions and historical manuscripts to works of art, science, medicine, gastronomy, fashion, philosophy, and children’s literature, the fair presents a sweeping panorama of human knowledge and creativity. Whether discovering an accessible gem priced around $50 or encountering a multimillion-dollar rarity, visitors can expect objects that inspire wonder at every level of collecting.

Long celebrated for its welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, the fair attracts a diverse audience: seasoned bibliophiles, institutional curators, literary icons, and a growing number of new and younger collectors eager to engage with the world of rare books. The Armory’s dramatic setting provides a fitting backdrop for this unique blend of scholarship, connoisseurship, and discovery.

The 66th edition also introduces a dynamic mix of new and returning exhibitors, bringing fresh perspectives alongside long-established expertise. New participants include Black Swan Books, Marshall Kibbey Rare Books, Midway Rare Books, Reagan’s Rare Books, Sammy B. Berk New World Cartographic, The Joe Fay Company, The Rare Books Sleuth, Walnut Street Paper, William Allison Books, and Zephyr Used & Rare Books, further enriching the fair’s international scope.

Continuing its commitment to expanding and diversifying its audience, the fair will once again host its Ambassador Program, now in its third year. The 2026 ambassadors, drawn from the worlds of literature, design, fashion, collecting, and culture, play a vital role in introducing new communities to the pleasures and possibilities of rare books and ephemera.

Visitors can also look forward to a curated series of talks and conversations on Saturday, May 2, connecting rare books with contemporary literary culture. A highlight includes a panel hosted by Belletrist and AIR MAIL exploring the mythology and legacy of literary Los Angeles, with a focus on figures such as Eve Babitz and Joan Didion, underscoring the fair’s role as a living forum for ideas and conversation, not just a marketplace.

For more than six decades, the ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair has set the global standard for excellence in the antiquarian book trade.

In 2026, it once again invites the world’s book lovers and collectors to gather at the Armory, to browse, to learn, and to experience firsthand why New York remains at the heart of the international rare book world.

For more information, please visit the >> website