Rare books in Milan: The largest fair for rare and antiquarian books in Italy opens today!

Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, and Sunday 27th October 2024
Villa Necchi Campiglio, Via Mozart 14, Milan

From Friday, October 25th to Sunday, October 27th, 2024, the beautiful Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, a property managed by the foundation "Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano", FAI, will host the leading antiquarian book fair in Italy. This prestigious event, organized by FAI in collaboration with ILAB's member association Associazione Librai Antiquari d'Italia (ALAI), will feature Italy's most renowned antiquarian booksellers, as well as several prominent international dealers.

Over thirty exhibitors will present a stunning array of rare and antiquarian works, including manuscripts, incunabula, first editions of literary masterpieces, artisan bindings, autographs and 20th-century editions.
Among the exhibitors are some of Italy’s oldest antiquarian bookstores, such as Libreria Pregliasco from Turin, founded in 1911, which skillfully blends tradition with modernity through its wide-ranging selection from early printed books to more recent editions, and Libreria Oreste Gozzini from Florence, a specialist in legal literature.

This year, FAI will also spotlight the extraordinary literary heritage of its own properties, beginning with the library of Masino Castle in Caravino (TO). This library, housing approximately 25,000 volumes, was declared of exceptional historical and artistic value by the Italian Ministry of Culture in 1988. The collection includes rare books in Italian, French, English, German, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, with 15,000 volumes dating prior to 1830. The Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Masino Castle’s Archives and Library is committed to the care, promotion, and digitization of this priceless collection. At the fair, a selection of works from the Masino Castle Library will be on display, offering insight into the history of Piedmont, the Savoy family, and the Valperga family. Visitors will be able to consult reproductions of these rare books.

Additionally, throughout the weekend, the public can learn about FAI's ongoing efforts to conserve and promote this valuable cultural asset. A special conference titled A Thousand-Year Heritage: Dialogues Around the Masino Castle Library will be held on Saturday, October 26th, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., featuring speakers Laura Tos, Sara Martinetti, Veronica Ambrosoli, Giovanni Gobbi, and Martina Colombi.

The exhibition will also provide an opportunity to support the ongoing preservation of the library’s rare book collection.

During the event, attendees are also welcome to explore the interiors and art collections of Villa Necchi Campiglio, a masterpiece of 1930s architecture designed by Piero Portaluppi and located in the heart of Milan. The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Milan.

A full list of exhibitors can be viewed here: https://mostre.alai.it/milano