London International Antiquarian Book Fair

Illustrated Manuscript

London International Antiquarian Book Fair 2015

Photograph by: Amanda Chain

There truly is something in London for everyone. The home of Dickens and Keats, London hosted this years International Antiquarian Book Fair. Upon entering, I was shuffled through security needing to check my Tube literature as no books were permitted into the Fair, lest there be any suspicion of thievery.

For anyone with an interest in books, maps, or illustrated manuscripts this was the place for you. There were a number of London Book Dealers represented, with a fair amount of overseas exhibitors. One of the highlights for me was Peter Harrington of London. Peter Harrington is one of the Mayfair Giants as I like to call them. A major book dealership with an influential reputation for attracting some of the world's most precious titles.

Cover of First Edition of House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

London International Antiquarian Book Fair 2015

Photograph by: Amanda Chain

They exhibited two incredible pieces this weekend. One was F. Scott Fitzgerald's "I Didn't Get Over," two draft manuscripts and typescripts with corrections. Fitzgerald wrote the first draft and the final draft for this short story in 1936 and published it in Esquire magazine in October of that year. As an interwar period enthusiast I've always held a certain fascination for his work and naturally I was drawn to a piece like this. The only thing stopping me from purchasing the set was the mere fact that it cost a 95,000.

The other piece exhibited that I was absolutely in love with was a first edition of Thomas More's Utopia. Now for those of you unfamiliar with his work, thie piece was written back in 1516, and left an indelible mark on western civilization. His ideas on political philosophy are reiterated and reflected in the Twenty-first century. Despite the size, the work was powerful and seeing it made me reflect on how not only small items, but rather more importantly ideas survive through the centuries. This was a tad more expensive than the Fitzgerald manuscripts costing 350,000.

Utopia by Thomas More at the Peter Harrington Display

London International Antiquarian Book Fair 2015

Photograph by: Amanda Chain

Although there were pieces I could afford. I ended up buying a first edition of The Bonadventure by Edmund Blunden. Blunden is better known for his poetry and his timeless classic Undertones of War written about his time serving in the military during the First World War. The Bonadventure is written prior to his service and I was interested in seeing his change in style after his experience in war. His later works were very much defined by the war and I thought perhaps his description of travel might present a different side to his personality as a writer. I purchased the book for 45 from The Keel Row Bookship who are lcated further north in Tyne & Wear and the attendant I spoke to made a mall remark that I must be one of the few people at the fair buying a book for the simple pleasure of reading.

Perhaps this is true, and like art, many are in the business of collecting pieces for their value rather than their enjoyment. I'd like to think however, that there is a personal connection to book dealing. Of the booksellers I met, a number of them mentioned how much they loved their work because they could be close to the ideas and stories they loved. It is a passionate business, but a business nonetheless. Perhaps one day, I'll return years later to claim that Utopia whose price will have surely doubled, but until then, I'm happy with Blunden.