"They came to the dance........."
On Friday October 10, setup at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair, booksellers were cautious about pre-fair buying, not knowing what to expect in this economy. But when the line started to form outside prior to Saturday's opening I heard Louis Collins say: "Well they are coming to the dance. I don't know if you will find your partner but they are coming to the dance." Indeed they came and danced, both Saturday and Sunday. Partners were found, (even some slow dancing occured!) SOLD stickers stuck, full bags were carried out. A woman at the fair retrieved her cell phone from her checked bag. Not to price books online, but to take and send images of books and book dealer's booths by phone to a bed-ridden friend who was "at the fair" if not physically, in spirit!
I saw several out of town dealers buying, lots of local booksellers who did not setup this year but were there buying. The larger fair space was bright and airy and it felt good, not only to the booksellers but the customers as well. I saw most of the Washington Book Club at the fair, also a few heavyweight buyers from England making those special purchases, the book arts were alive and well at the fair, plenty of customers both days. Canada was well represented, and I spotted the great bookbinder Richart Smart walking the fair with his family (www.oldenglishbindery.com). Matt Ruff (Winner of the Washington Book Award for Fiction this year) was also spotted among the crowd.
Filming for the ABAA archive was taking place as well, all afternoon, members recording their stories that will be part of the ABAA archives at the Grolier Club in NYC (Thank you Mike Ginsberg for this great idea!).
Fair promoters Louis Collins and Dave Gregor have perfected presenting this fair and it showed in all the little details. Coffee and pastry for the dealers, ample time to setup, the Book Fair dinner Friday night (sponsored by the Book Club of Washington), several birthdays were announced during the fair. One buyer suggested to me that the PA announcer should announce his Melville wants so he could go straight to a certain booth without walking the floor on his own!
Seattle-ites support of this fair, and interest in books, maps, prints, posters, ephemera and the like, was much in evidence over this weekend, a glorious fall weather weekend as well. Great location, nice building, I was impressed by the stock brought out by all the dealers, all around a very classy event. The Pacific Northwest Chapter trotted out their fancy new directory (with color printing) at this event, postcards were give out for the ABAA SF fair in February '09, dealers were hurrying to get their deposits in for next years fair, and be sure to watch the fair website: www.seattlebookfair.com for pictures of this year's event as well as interesting news about next year. If Chief Seattle himself were still around, he would have made an appearance at the fair, hoping to find some great books! See you next year in Seattle! Ed Smith, ABAA.
P.S.: 46 ABAA dealers exhibited this year in Seattle!
Ed Smith
Ed Smith Books, ABAA
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(Excerpted from a longer posting to the ABAA Discuss site)
My wife Sonia and I drove Boston to Seattle and were first time exhibitors at the Seattle Book Fair. A very well run fair, great town, and very good traffic both days. An educated customer base and little price negotiation, which was a welcome change from the usual East Coast haggling. Had hoped to pick up some Microsofties as new customers which didn't materialize but did add several potential long term prospects. Several follow-ups already in email, including one of the young collectors mentioned elsewhere. A pleasure to meet some we'd known only by name or email - Michael Thompson, Taylor Bowie and others. Heard the excited whoop - both Sonia and I grinned when but didn't know the source at the time. Fair number of younger clients - nice to see. Very cordial crowd, with half a dozen customers thanking us for bringing our books out from Massachusetts! Thanks to David and Louis for a job well done.
John Kuenzig
Kuenzig Books ABAA-ILAB
Topsfield MA
Just back on the 16th from this splendiferous affair, and a few days R & R. I had my second best (with a promise to be my first best) Seattle book fair, of five this decade. Don't get excited, as the first best wasn't terrific, although buying is always good. I used to try and think of reasons not to do this fair, only one of three I now annually exhibit at, and can't come up with a good reason. Very well run, a very good venue, very reasonably priced, open only for 12 hours over 2 days, and then there are the 1500 visitors over that short period who are interested in books. Also, Greg Gibson has convinced me, by experience, that his Thai restaurant is better than mine. Of course, I have no idea why I would dispute anyone who cooks ribs as well as he does. In short ... we make money at Boston and NY, but Seattle does what Seattle does best, entertains as well as provides the occasional... profit. I truly can not say enough about the pleasurable experience that Louis Collins and David Gregor provide.
Rusty Mott
Howard S. Mott, Inc. ABAA
Sheffield MA
Dear Louis,
Many thanks to you and David for your efforts in organizing the fair. Everything went so smoothly both before the show and during setup that I can't think of a thing that could be improved upon. ... everyone was very welcoming and helpful, there was a good crowd in attendance both days, I have a few decent possibilities for some follow-up business, and it was great to visit Seattle.Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Catherine Catherine Barnes Autographs
Philadelphia, PA 19118
We enjoyed the Fair and hope you have gotten lots of good feedback. The facility was nice and lighted and allowed for people to walk the aisles and look easily. Our customers seemed to be pleased with the whole experience.
Best regards,
Vicky Stewart
Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers, LLC
Contemporary Fine Press & Artists' Books
Birmingham, Alabama 35226-3606