The California International Antiquarian Book Fair, one of the world's largest and most prestigious exhibitions of antiquarian books, returns to Northern California to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.  Recognized around the world for its vast collection of rare books and treasures, the 2017 Book Fair offers a variety of notable items for visitors, including the world’s first photographs of the American West; a rare, author’s copy of Wallace Stegner’s first book; and an elaborately illustrated, 25-stanza rhyming paean to sobriety.  The Book Fair will take place at the Oakland Marriott City Center, February 10 – 12, 2017.

Sponsored by the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) and featuring the collections and rare treasures of nearly 200 booksellers from over 20 countries around the world, the three-day Fair gives visitors the opportunity to see, learn about and purchase the finest in rare and valuable books, manuscripts, maps, autographs, graphics, photographs, fine bindings; children's and illustrated books, and ephemera from many centuries and countries.

The Book Fair is the ideal event for those wanting to discover fascinating and unusual pieces of history, art and culture.  From esteemed first editions to eclectic one-offs to expensive originals, the 2017 Book Fair will offer the following notable items:

• Two Photos from The Cherokee Creek Boundary Survey Expedition of 1850 (later the Sitgreaves Expedition of 1851) – These are the earliest known photographs of the American West and are considered the most important daguerreotypes in a private collection. One image shows a covered wagon, mountain men and bowie knives that are part of a government expedition; and the second shows Dr. Woodhouse, a physician and naturalist accompanying the expedition. (Offered by the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop, Inc., booth 207, $750,000)
• The Tippler’s Vow – Possibly the earliest “Just Say No” campaign, written by Lee Fairchild and published in 1901, The Tippler’s Vow is a 25-stanza rhyming poem – or a “vow” – warning against the dangers of indulging in wine and alcohol. The set includes the author’s original and a second copy, both are beautifully bound books with original covers and 26 illustrations from Jean Paleologue.  (Offered by Kline Books, booth 912 / 913, $27,500)
• Harvey Milk’s First (failed) Campaign Poster – In 1973, a few months after moving to San Francisco, Harvey Milk ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.  “At last YOU have a candidate for Supervisor.  Harvey Milk. Milk has something for everyone.”  Milk lost this campaign; but eventually won in 1977.  (Offered by Bolerium Books, booth 204, $3,500)
• Wallace Stegner’s First Book – Wallace Stegner, the “dean” of Western writers, published his first book based on his thesis as a student at the Iowa State University.  “Clarence Edward Dutton, An Appraisal,” was written in 1935, reflecting Stegner’s admiration for the noted geologist who studied the American West. (Offered by James M. Dourgarian, Bookman ABAA, booth 709, $15,000) 

• The San Francisco Public Library: A Publishing House, 1968 – Just in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love (and the Book Fair!), a first edition of a hand-made magazine created and printed at the San Francisco Public Library Thermofax Machine (a public copy machine).  Created by Richard Brautigan, Victor Moscoso and Jack Thibeau – three hippie-era artists and poets – this magazine was inspired by the notion that you could publish yourself for a dime per page. Includes poetry, illustrations and the copied bellies of Thibeau and Zenobia, a Siamese cat.  (Offered by James M. Dourgarian, Bookman ABAA, booth 709, $3,000) 

• Britain’s Punk Scene – A colorful collection of rare photo books and magazines depicting the burgeoning punk scene in Britain.  Features photos of early performances and articles about the Sex Pistols, Generation X, the Slits, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Clash, the Buzzcocks, X-Ray Spex, the Damned and many others. (Offered by Janette Ray Booksellers, booth 402) 

• Polish Protest for Peace Post WWII – A 1946 flyer decrying violence incited by fake news.  "Odezwa do Ludnosci M. Kielc!" (“Appeal to the People of the City of Kielce”) is a leaflet and poster written and distributed in 1946 following a violent pogrom in Kielce, Poland.  Created by a group of leftist workers and socialists, the flyer was an appeal to calm the city after the deadliest Polish pogrom post WWII.  Local police and citizens attacked and killed more than 40 Polish Jews who had returned to the city after the Holocaust.  The mob was incited by false news reports about the returning Jews. (Offered by Kline Booksellers, booth 912 /913, $15,000) 

• The First Feature Film in the World – An original 63mm film fragment from 1897 of the boxing match between “Gentleman” Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons. The fragment shows the two fighters in a clinch. This film became a landmark for motion pictures and boxing. (Offered by Royal Books, booth 308, $9,750) 

• Medieval & Renaissance Bibles and Manuscripts – A selection of bibles and biblical commentaries that depict the biblically-centered faith of medieval Europe.  Includes bibles and manuscripts. (Offered by Les Enluminures, booth 619) 

• Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathaniel West, 1933 – A high-point for 20th century literature, and inspiration for the 1958 film noir, this first edition is one of only 800 copies.  (Offered by Royal Books, booth 308, $125,000) 

• The Music of the World Fairs – A collection of more than 130 pieces of sheet music from songs published for dozens of World’s Fairs, including Chicago, Atlanta, London, Paris, St. Louis, New York and San Francisco. (Offered by Mark Selvaggio, Books & Ephemera, booth 711) 

• Book from Abraham Lincoln’s Law Library – A very scarce item that is personally signed by Lincoln’s law partner, William Herndon. (Offered by the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop, Inc., booth 207, $25,000)

This year’s Book Fair will include a special exhibit from The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, which has a long history of collecting the literary fiction of California. In more recent years, that scope has expanded to include mystery and detective fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and western fiction. This special exhibit will highlight California authors’ notable contributions in genre fiction and will emphasize recent donations to the library by featuring materials from the extensive collection of influential author, critic, and literary mentor Anthony Boucher, first editions by early members of the Northern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, selections by popular western and adventure writer Kenneth Perkins and MWA Grand Master Ross Macdonald, and more.

The Book Fair’s venue in downtown Oakland is an added convenience for bibliophiles. The Oakland Marriott City Center is just steps away from the 12th Street BART Station, making it easily accessible to attendees from San Francisco and all over the East Bay.  Out-of-town visitors will appreciate staying onsite at the Marriott, plus fair visitors arriving at both Oakland and San Francisco airports can take BART directly to the new venue.  Moreover, downtown Oakland is within easy walking distance to diverse and eclectic cuisine, hip nightspots, historic Old Oakland, museums, Lake Merritt and the waterfront at Jack London Square. 

Sponsors for the Book Fair include: Michals Insurance Agency, Inc. Media sponsors for the book fair include: ABC7, BART, Interiors California, SF Gate and The San Francisco Chronicle.

The Book Fair’s schedule will also include the following events and special exhibits, free with Fair admission:

Saturday, February 11

9:00 am - 10:30 am: California Rare Book School presents: “The Other Book: The Ames Almanack Opens a Window on Colonial America.” Two books were commonly found in eighteenth century households in North America: the Bible and the Other Book, or the Almanach.  Susan M. Allen, who teaches "History of the Book, 200-1820,” at California Rare Book School, will share an illustrated lecture from her course demonstrating how to “read” almanachs, both bibliographically and culturally, and how to decipher their puzzling tables.

11:00 am - 12:30 pm: California Rare Book School presents: Bound for El Dorado: Collecting California and the Far West. Presented by Gary F. Kurutz, Director of the Special Collections Branch, California State Library.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Meet Mr. Blake, An illustrated lecture on the life, work, and influence of William Blake, given by John Windle, ABAA specialist in the literary and artistic output of this English genius. Jointly presented by the ABAA and the Bibliographical Society of America.

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm: California Rare Book School presents: Printers, Collectors, Bibliographers, and the Inquisition: A Brief Introduction to the History of the Book in Hispanic America. Presented by Daniel J. Slive, Head of Special Collections at the Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University and David Szewczyk, proprietor, Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Co.

Sunday, February 12

12:30 – 1:15 pm: Book Collecting 101,Learn from ABAA member Vic Zoschak, Jr., Tavistock Bookshop to create a strategy for collecting books, as well as how to spot a “first edition,” judge a book’s condition, and learn bookish terms and jargon.  

1:15 – 2:00 pm: What’s This Book Worth? – Vic Zoschak, Jr., Tavistock Books will discuss the primary factors that give books commercial and monetary value, as well as strategies for appraising and selling books.

2:00 – 3:30 pm: Discovery Day is the public’s chance to discover if those old books gathering dust are worth something.  The public will receive free, expert oral appraisals on up to three books. Appraisals are limited to a first come, first served basis – within the scheduled times.

Tickets and Information

            The 50th California International Antiquarian Book Fair will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center at 1001 Broadway in downtown Oakland from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Friday, February 10; 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 11; and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 12.

Tickets are available online or at the door. Friday admission tickets are $25; Saturday and Sunday tickets are $15 and all tickets allow return admission for the remainder of the fair. For more information about tickets or exhibiting, visit www.cabookfair.com. Pre-sale ($13-$23) and student passes ($10-$20) are available online now.

For more information about the 50th California International Antiquarian Book Fair, please visit the website at www.cabookfair.com or the ABAA website at www.abaa.org; or contact Fair Managers, White Rain Productions at, cafair@whiterainproductions.com, (800) 454-6401.