photo courtesy TABA
The Sewanee Inn, site of the 2015 Tennessee Antiquarian Book Fair
Now in its fifth year, the Tennessee Antiquarian Book Fair, held at the Sewanee Inn on the campus of the University of the South, offers book lovers a chance to view (and purchase) rare and vintage publications from some of the best booksellers in this region.
The event is sponsored by the Tennessee Antiquarian Booksellers Association, and here’s what they have to say about this year’s event, which will take place Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
“Booksellers from more than half the states east of the Mississippi River and at least one foreign country will exhibit at this year’s fair. Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Kansas, and Florida are just some of the states represented by participating booksellers (see list below). We are happy to be back on campus this year and look forward to a great weekend of good books and good friends!
“The fair will include a variety of collectible and rare books, autographed documents, and other ephemera. Bibliophiles will discover modern first editions of literature, mystery, and science fiction. Collectible books and documents concerning the War Between the States, the American Revolution, and both World Wars will be available. Dealers specializing in children’s literature, art, religion, fine bindings, and books about books will also be exhibiting at the fair.
“Book prices ranging from $10 to $50,000 are sure to pique the interest of the leisure reader as well as the most avid collector.”
General admission to the event is $10, and that price is refundable, though we’re not sure why. Perhaps if you drive all the way to Sewanee and discover that someone else has already purchased that $50,000 book, you get your money back.
The book fair will feature several booksellers from Memphis. Here’s the whole list of vendors:
Americana Books - Stone Mountain, Georgia Billy S. Arant Jr. - Chattanooga, Tennessee Kenneth Beebe, Bookseller - Fayetteville, Georgia Big Spring Books - Huntsville, Alabama Blue Jacket Books - Xenia, OhioThe Book Adventure - Memphis, Tennessee Citation Books - Hilton Head, South CarolinaSusan Davis, Bookseller - Memphis, Tennessee Thomas Dorn, Bookseller, ABAA Ed’s Editions LLC, ABAA - West Columbia, South Carolina First Folio, ABAA - Paris, Tennessee Frey Fine Books Joe Hagood Books Carol Anne Kouyoumdjian - Columbia City, Indiana Landmark Booksellers - Franklin, Tennessee Ashley McAnulty David McCord, Bookseller - Atlanta, Georgia McDonough Fine Art Kenneth Mallory, Bookseller, ABAA Joe Maynard Tom and Caroline McGee, Booksellers Old New York Book Shop, ABAA - Atlanta, Georgia Old South Books, Inc. - Grayson, Georgia Out-Of-The-Way Books - North Adams, Michigan The Ridge Books - Calhoun, Georgia Rosebud Collectible Books and Music ShambroLa Books TennRebGirl Tennessee Books & Autographs - Rogersville, Tennessee Underground Books - Carrollton, Georgia Yesterday’s Books
Anyone who’d like to participate, or needs more information, should contact joel@landmarkbooksellers.com.
And if you’re still on the fence about attending, we offer this comment from someone who went last year: “Part of the fun is the acute weirdness of an antiquarian book fair held on a remote mountain surrounded by cow pastures and religious retreats.”
We’re sold on it. See you there!
