The Vermont Summer Book Fair, inaugurated over 30 years ago  by the Vermont Antiquarian Bookseller’s Association (VABA) gathers 40 plus dealers in fine old books, maps, ephemera, manuscripts, postcards and paper to the Withington Skating Facility at Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro, Sunday, August 12, 2012. Fair hours are 10am to 4pm.

This year’s fair features the “Ten Minute Symposia”, a series of impromptu dealer talks. Hourly, designated dealers will discuss an aspect of the old book business, collecting, or their particular specialty in the trade. Each talk will be held in the respective dealer’s booth and will be followed by a Q & A session. We encourage all interested visitors to join in and ask the questions that may have intrigued or puzzled you about old & rare books and related subjects.

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Ben Koenig of The Country Bookshop, a frequent contributor to WCVT FM 101.7 Classic Vermont will be one of our speakers as will Garry Austin of Austin’s Antiquarian Books in Wilmington VT, a specialist in all aspects of Theodore Roosevelt material. There will be a schedule in the Fair program.

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VABA is also proud to have with us this year the Philadelphia Printshop and Don Cresswell.  You will remember this affable individual from his many appearances on “The Antiques Roadshow”. Don will be sharing some behind the scenes “Roadshow” stories and will be taking your questions as part of the “Symposia”.

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Just off Exit 2 of I-91, on Rte 9, The Park complex is identifiable by the local landmark of the Creamery Covered Bridge. Plenty of parking surrounds this well-lit spacious exhibition arena that is home to the Brattleboro Winter Sports Program and events like the “Home Show”. At the Vermont Summer Fair you will see names that you recognize from the the New York, Los Angeles, or Boston ABAA shows, however you will also find some dealers that exhibit only regionally. Some come from as far away as Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and others travel from New York and all our neighboring New England states and Canada. They will all be bringing their fresh material garnered from auctions and attics, barns and book sales, housecalls and pickers. The variety of the dealer offerings will be amazing. Of course you will find books in almost any subject, but the ephemera, maps, autographs, documents, photographs, post cards, prints, and exotica are head turning.

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Whether you are an experienced or novice book collector, a librarian or an archivist, a scholar or an academic, or are simply interested in books and the book arts in general, you will find something to your taste. We invite you to visit the fair, explore the booths, and purchase the treasures on display. Listen to a discussion, ask a question or two and enjoy the show. Show hours are Sunday, August 12, 10 am to 4 pm. The show admission is $5.

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