Organizers are expecting up to 1,000 art and rare book collectors to pack this year’s St. Louis Fine Print, Rare Book and Paper Arts Fair presented by the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The number of dealers has increased to twenty-eigh this year and includes nationally-known dealers from around the country.

 “We’ve added four new dealers to the Fair, in addition to welcoming back the those who’ve helped us build the Fair these past seven years” said Julie Dunn-Morton, curator of fine art collections at the Mercantile Library.   “And we’re excited to include contemporary art and photography on the list of artwork being offered.”

 Returning this year will be New York’s Susan Teller Gallery featuring American art of the 1930s and 40s, especially industrial realism and modernism; Kiechel Fine Art, specialists in the work of Thomas Hart Benton; St. Louisan Anthony Garnett with his antiquarian, first edition and international book titles; and Judith Haudrich Antique Prints specializing in 17th – 19th century botanical and historical subjects.

New this year are G. W. Einstein Company of New York who offers contemporary prints; M. Lee Stone Fine Prints who specializes in American masters of the 20th and 21st centuries with an emphasis on African-American artists; Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. of Chicago who specializes in maps, prints and rare books; Barbara Martin Smith Watercolors; and Murray Hudson Antiquarian Books, Maps, Prints & Globes from Halls, Tennessee.

"The Fair is a great opportunity for both experienced and beginning collectors," says Library director John Hoover, "because of the wide variety of styles, periods and cultures represented here.  There's really something for everyone."

The Fair runs May 2 - 4, 2014, at the J. C. Penney Center on the UMSL North Campus.  Proceeds from the Fair will benefit the Mercantile Library collections acquisition and conservation funds. Visit printfair.umsl.edu or call 314-516-6740 for more information.