Friendly, stylish, hip - Chelsea Antiquarian Book Fair, November 6-7, 2015

Warmer than Boston, more intimate and less formal than most other antiquarian book fairs - over its life, the Chelsea Antiquarian Book Fair has become a fixture in the November calendar for book collectors which leads book-people from Sydney in Australia to Chelsea in the UK to Toronto in Canada and Boston in the United States. ‘See you at Chelsea’ has become a phrase familiar to everyone who is fond of books, not only in the British rare book trade.

And it’s not all about dealers and committed book people: the Chelsea Fair welcomes new collectors, too. With Christmas around the corner, are you looking for an unusual and memorable present? Or is there a subject, author or period of history that especially attracts you? Perhaps you have been thinking of collecting books but are unsure of where to start, what to look for, who to approach or what on earth booksellers mean by yapp edges, pochoir plates or slightly foxed ... Chelsea is the place to meet and talk to antiquarian booksellers who will be happy to answer – or attempt to answer – whatever questions are thrown at them.

The Chelsea Antiquarian Book Fair offers an excellent opportunity to find the perfect antiquarian book among thousands of exquisite, extraordinary and unique items showcased by expert booksellers at the Chelsea Old Town Hall from 6 to 7 November.

See you there!

6 November, 4.30 – 6 pm: BOOK SIGNING, BERNARD MIDDLETON

Bernard Middleton is a world-class bookbinder and the leading specialist in antiquarian book restoration in the UK. He received ABA Honorary Membership in 2010 to mark his exceptional contribution to this critical area of work within the antiquarian book trade. At the opening day in Chelsea he will be signing copies of his already famous work A BOOKBINDER'S MISCELLANY. Essays on Fine Binding with an introduction by Sam Ellenport.

7 November, 12 noon: GUIDED TOUR - POETRY

On this tour Julian Nangle will unearth important books by leading poets of the 19th and 20th centuries, including signed limited editions and unusual and scarce pamphlets by writers such as Seamus Heaney & Ted Hughes. You may also see examples of early poetry printing, presentation copies given from one poet to another, and contemporary fine press publications.

7 November 1 pm: GUIDED TOUR - THE ART OF THE BOOK

The modern book arts are a fascinating and expansive field. On this tour specialist Sophie Schneideman will introduce you to beautiful examples of fine press printing and illustrated books, including books created by artists and graphic designers, with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries.

7 November 1 pm: GUIDED TOUR - ITALIAN ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS

The Renaissance led to a new flowering of the book arts and the rapid expansion of printing in Italy. In this tour James Eaton will show how Renaissance ideals affected the design and production of books between the 16th and 19th centuries, including typography, illustration, binding, and printed ephemera.

7 November 3 pm: GUIDED TOUR - CHINA RISING: THE IMPACT OF A NATION ON THE COLLECTIBLES MARKET

A new era has dawned in The People's Republic of China, and a new generation is eager to reclaim items of historic importance. Today we are seeing an influx of fascinating material that once seemed lost forever, including antique travel photographs, handwritten manuscript journals and letters sent home by visitors. Travel specialist Bernie Lauser will guide you through this new and exciting field.

7 November 4 pm: GUIDED TOUR - BOOKS, NOT JUST FOR READING ANYMORE

Reading is wonderful, but there are many reasons to fall in love with a book other than the text that it contains. On this tour Derek Walker will look at bindings, format, provenance, historical significance, and more, to discover books that have enough other qualities that you won't care if you're not interested in - or in some cases can't even read - what the words say.

CHELSEA ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR – 6 to 7 November, 2015

Chelsea Old Town Hall
King’s Road, LONDON

The Fair will be open between 2pm and 7pm on Friday and from 11am to 5pm on Saturday. Chelsea Old Town Hall is located on the King's Road, (opposite Sydney Street) London SW3 5EE; nearest underground stations are South Kensington and Sloane Square and many buses stop nearby.

For more information, please visit the official website: www.chelseabookfair.com.

(Pictures: www.chelseabookfair.com)