The New York International Book Fair kicks off at The Park Avenue Armory with a preview on Thursday, April 3 and runs through Sunday, April 6.  The finest booksellers, map, autograph and manuscript dealers will fill the Park Avenue Armory with a vast assortment of the whimsical, the scholarly and the arcane.  Two hundred and two dealers from around the world will exhibit at this year’s fair; the largest in its history.  The fair opens with a preview on Thursday, April 3rd runs through Sunday, April 6.

For history buffs, there are many fascinating items.  The first is an extremely rare autograph letter written by Lee Harvey Oswald requesting admission to the American Communist Party.  The letter, unseen for many years, is addressed from the same post office box address where he ordered his infamous mail-order rifle.  This spectacular document will be in the booth of Justin Schiller and the asking price is $150,000.

Also of interest to scholars and collectors of Kennedy material is
A pen used by President Kennedy for signing the Saline Water Conversion Act on September 22, 1961.  The bill ensured that Americans had clean, safe drinking water.  The pen along with a vellum copy of the bill can be found at Stuart Lutz Historical Documents and is priced at $2,250.00.

Schubertiade will feature the earliest known signed photograph of President Kennedy inscribed while he was in high school to his lifelong best friend Lem.  This Choate graduation portrait is inscribed "To Lemmer [Kirk Lemoyne Billings] the gayest son I know -In memory of two tense years and in hopes of many more- your old Pal and supporter! Ken" also signed by the photographer and dated 1935.   The price is  $30,000.

 
These are just a few of the many historically significant items to be found at the fair.  Also to be exhibited: A rare J.D. Salinger letter commenting on a critic’s review of Franny and Zooey, a handwritten letter containing a poem by Emily Dickinson.  For those interested in earlier work, there will be lavishly rendered illuminated manuscripts, maps and charts.


Sunday, April 6 is Discovery Day.  Visitors to the fair may bring up to three items for discussion with and informal appraisal by experts.

The New York Antiquarian Book Fair:
The Park Avenue Armory (Park Avenue and 67th Street
Book Fair Hours
Opening:  Thursday April 3: 5-9
Friday, April 4:  12-8
Saturday April 5: 12-7
Sunday April 6: 12-5

Discovery Day, Sunday April 6
12-3