This year's New York Antiquarian Book Fair which opens at The Park Avenue Armory on Thursday will feature an archive     of photos, notebooks, lyrics and poems of and by The Doors legendary frontman Jim Morrison.  It can be found at the booth of the U.K's Lucius Booksellers.

If rock's not your thing, you can also see a 1949 letter by President John Kennedy on the subject of Irish unity.  Another great rarity is a fascinating 1944 letter by Eleanor Roosevelt on the hotbutton topic of civil rights.  Both are in the booth Calfornia dealer Seth Kaller.

For rare book collectors, material ranges from contemporary first editions, mysteries and crime novels, children's literature, science horticulture, cooking and  tomes in European and Asian languages from all eras of history.  Map lovers will find some rare prizes at the fair. One of the earliest maps of New York City will be featured at Martayan Lan and Captain John Smith's highly sought map of New England will be on display at Cohen & Taliaferro, both from New York. For lovers of literature Estate of Mind is selling Walt Whitman's personal copy of Leaves of Grass.

The New York Antiquarian Book fair has been highly touted as the best book fair in the world. All exhibitors are member of the prestigious Antiquarian Bookseller's Association of America or The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers.  Over 200 dealers from across the US and  10 other countries will exhibit. All items are for sale.

On Saturday at 1 pm newcomers to the world of rare books can attend Book Collecting 101, a seminar on what to look for, what makes a book rare and learn the basics of book collecting from Brad and Jen Johnson, the proprietors of The Book Shop, LLC, in Covina. CA.(free with paid admission to the fair)

On Sunday, visitors can bring books, maps and other ephemera from their attics for Discovery Day where they will have the opportunnity to show their material to experts and get information and informal appraisals of their items (free with paid admission to the fair).

Fair Hours and Info:

Hours and Info: The Park Avenue Armory, Park Avenue @ 67th Street

Preview: Thursday, April 11: 5-9 pm

Friday, April 12: noon to 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 13: noon-7 pm

Sunday April 14: noon-5 pm

 Panel Discussion: Book Collecting 101 Saturday April 13th, 1pm

Discovery Day, Sunday April 14: 12-3 pm