FAIR ACTIVITIES

SPECIAL EXHIBITS:

Special Collections

A Love Affair with Books: Personal Stories of Noted Collectors
In addition to book-related lectures and seminars, the 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair will feature an exciting Special Exhibit entitled "A Love Affair with Books: Personal Stories of Noted Collectors". Exploring the avid pursuits of collectors past and present, this colorful, wide-ranging exhibit spotlights legendary library builders as well as contemporary Southern California book lovers including:

• Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar collects children’s books with an emphasis on the works of Victorian illustrator Arthur Rackham.
• Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has assembled an encyclopedic cinema collection.
• Monsignor Francis J. Weber has published and built a big collection of small books all measuring less than 4 inches.
• Railroad magnate Henry Huntington amassed a spectacular collection of rare books and manuscripts in the fields of British and American history; selected materials from the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
• The Ward Ritchie Collection from Occidental College presents the work of the world-renowned, Southern California-based fine book printer
• The Lawrence Clark Powell Collection from Occidental College honors the legendary librarian and literary bibliographer who founded the UCLA School of Library Service
• Academy Award-winning producer and director Tony Bill’s collection documents the history of early aviation; now part of the San Francisco International Airport Aviation Museum & Library
• A past president of the Zamorano Club, California’s oldest book club, Gordon J. Van De Water has long collected books dealing with California and the West California International Antiquarian Book Fair Special Exhibit

Plus collections from Librarian and Gemologist Mary Murphy, Philanthropist William Andrews Clark, Jr. and many more!

Southern California Book Arts
We are working with local "book art" artists and organizations to create an interesting, informative and entertaining special event area. Meet representatives from Los Angeles Area Book Arts groups to find out how you can get involved. Once again, a small press operator will appear at the Fair to create unique souvenirs for the public, in conjunction with calligraphers, paper marblers, etc.

Participating Libraries and Organizations:

• American Printing History Association
• Archetype Press Art Center College of Design
• The Book Club of California
• Mary Norton Clapp Library, Occidental College
• Huntington Library
• International Printing Museum
• Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD
• Pasadena City College
• Pasadena Digital History Collaboration
• Rare Books & Manuscripts Section of the ACRL/ALA
• Society for Calligraphy, Southern California

SEMINARS:

The Book Fair includes seminars, with paid admission, appealing to both the dedicated collector and those new to the world of rare books. ** Note:  Schedules are subject to change.

Saturday, February 11, 2012
1:00 pm: Seminar: Jefferson’s Legacy: Building the Rare Book Collections at the Library of Congress, a talk by Library of Congress Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Mark Dimunation. Sponsored by the Bibliographical Society of America.

3:00 pm: Seminar: A Love Affair with Books: Personal Stories of Noted Collectors
Panel discussion about building collections featuring Tony Bill, Kenneth Turan and Mary Murphy. Moderated by TV/radio personality Patt Morrison.

Sunday, February 12, 2012
8:45 am: Seminar: Topics and Problems in IRS Appraisals (2 hours-ABAA/ILAB Members Only). Presented by Charles Goldsmid and Sheryl Jaeger.
The process of appraisal and topics such as:

• problems in determining fair market value (including IRS requirements regarding "appropriate markets," conditions" affecting gifts, and authentication);
• comps when there are "no comps";
• the question of media (books, original paper, Xeroxes, thumbdrives, etc.);
• special problems valuing collections

11:30 am: Seminar: Rare Books 101
Presented by Katy Carter, Brad Johnson and Carol Sandberg.
Noted rare booksellers will provide a speed course on the essentials you need to know to start collecting.

This seminar will provide the following overview on getting started in rare book collecting:

• What makes a book rare? Edition, condition, availability (rarity & value), etc.
• The different areas of collecting: For example, Early Books such as the Nuremberg Chronicle, Early Bibles, 19th Century Literature, Modern Literature like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby as well as Children’s Books such as Dr. Seuss’ first book And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street. Every collection differs depending on what you love.
• Internet as a research tool for shopping: EBay versus ABE, how not to get duped, and how to build a trusting relationship with your bookseller.
• How to care for your books: When and if to restore depending on cost of book or often the sentimental value, custom cases to house them in.

12:15 pm: Seminar: Do You Need an Appraisal?
Presented by Samuel Hessel and Sheryl Jaeger. Open to all fair attendees.
A seminar for book collectors and others who own or are responsible for books of value (or possibly of value). We will look to answer the questions:

• What is a formal appraisal?
• Who should get one for her collection?
• How do I go about the process?

1:30 - 3:00 pm - Discovery Day: Presented by The 45th California International Antiquarian Book Fair.
Discovery Day is open to the public, is free with paid admission and will offer interested individuals an opportunity to receive free "appraisals" on up to three books.