Books in Boston @ Back Bay Hilton antiquarian book and ephemera fair

SHOW UPDATE AS  OF: October 18, 2023

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire.  MW Book Fairs, a collaboration between Wiggins Fine Books ABAA, SNEAB and Richard Mori Books, is pleased to announce that over 40 outstanding antiquarian book, ephemera and photo dealers from ten states and Canada have signed on to the inaugural Books in Boston @ Hilton Back Bay, a new antiquarian book & ephemera fair to be held on Saturday October 28, 2023 from 8 am to 4 pm at  the Boston Hilton Back Bay’s Belvidere Ballroom located at 40 Dalton Street in Boston, Massachusetts, within easy walking distance from the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair to be held at the Hynes Convention Center from October 27-29, 2023.   The Hilton offers ideal amenities for dealers and attendees, including restaurants, parking garage, comfortable rooms, and easy access to the Prudential Center across the street.

Dealers exhibiting will come from ten states, Canada and the UK.  In the distinctive book category, Bauman Rare Books will have a variety of outstanding books from their stock, while Americana will be well represented with Peter Luke, James A. Arsenault, Aaron Benneian Historical Americana, William Hutchison and several others bringing a wide variety of rare books, maps, pamphlets and broadsides.  Counted among the bright young stars entering the rare book trade, Timeless Tales Rare Books will be presenting an array of early books, and literature high spots including noted works by Newton and Audubon.

Children’s book dealers include Enchanted Books, who will be bringing a wide variety of children’s classics including several Madeline first editions by Bemelmanns and a lovely handmade hardbound National Needle Company 1888 calendar in watercolor, children’s serials and related ephemera.  Along with his usual eclectic variety of children’s books, Boy Scout material and White Mountains, Richard Mori will have on offer a first edition first issue copy of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in a contemporary binding with the original wraps bound in.   Photo dealers include Rare Photo Gallery and House of Mirth who will be bringing a wide variety of collectible photos, albums and the like.

Nautical dealers include Ten Pound Island Book Company and Connecticut River Books, the latter specializing in Rockwell Kentiana.  Coming from the UK, Small Circus Rare Books will be showcasing fine press books as will Wiggins Fine Books, who will be bringing fine examples from the Cheloniidae and Pennyroyal presses along with a copy of the first bible translated by a woman, the Julia E. Smith bible published by the American Publishing Company in 1876.  Complete Traveller of Westport, CT will be offering an extensive collection of travel books including Baedeker’s Travel Guides, travel books and related material.  Also on the floor will be Faenwyl Bindery offering book conservation, paper repair and hand bookbinding as well as custom boxes and other enclosures.

Continuing a 25-year tradition, this year’s “shadow show”   Books in Boston @ Hilton Back Bay  will open on Saturday, October 28 at 8 am, four hours prior to the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair that opens at noon and features 120 dealers from around the world and 5,000 visitors.

The principals of MW Book Fairs are Duane A. Stevens of Wiggins Fine Books ABAA, ILAB, SNEAB of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts and Richard Mori of Richard Mori Books of Nashua, New Hampshire.   Duane was the co-developer of the Northampton Book and Book Arts Fair held for several years at Smith College and the Center for the Arts in Northampton, Massachusetts and along with Richard developed and promoted the recent antiquarian book and ephemera fair held at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  In addition, Richard Mori has also promoted the Northern New England Bookfair in Concord, NH.

Duane and Richard hope to make Boston Rare Book Week the most successful yet!   As many of you know, collectors and librarians are thirsty for live shows as evidenced by the record attendance at the book and antique events in Florida, Philadelphia, Maine, New Hampshire, central New York and New York City. What is truly noteworthy is the large number of attendees under the age of 40 at all these events.   As the markets are shifting so are the dealers with many new dealers in the trade under 50 years of age.

Let’s keep it going. Thank you all for your encouragement.

HOTEL DETAILS:   The Boston Hilton Back Bay is a modern 390-room 4-star hotel with attached parking garage located diagonally across from the Hynes Convention Center, accessed through the Sheraton hotel lobby across the street.  The location of the Hilton within a few minutes walking distance from the Hynes will ensure maximum exposure from the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair and its 120 dealers from around the world and the usual 5,000 visitors to the fair.  We have secured a block of rooms at the reduced rate of $299 per night.  Registered dealers may request the room reservation details from Duane: duane9393@gmail.com.   Reduced rate parking options will be available soon.

BOOTH OPTIONS:  We are offering a full-booth option of three six-foot tables in a U-shape ($1,100) along with a shared full-booth option ($1,200), with extra tables at $500.  For ILAB/ABAA dealers that may wish to set up at both shows we are offering a very affordable single table option of $500.  Dealers with showcase requests should inform us as soon as possible.

To reserve your booth please respond as promptly as you can as we are nearing full capacity, with only five or so booth spaces left as of this writing.  As we are dealers working in the interests of our dealer colleagues and friends we have been working closely with the staff at the Hilton to insure that the show is situated in very comfortable surroundings in the hotel’s main ballroom, with great lighting, easy load-in and easy access to the many shops and restaurants within the Prudential Center just across the street.  The show will be on the second floor of the hotel with easy street access from stairs off the main hotel lobby along with direct elevator access.

Interested dealers should indicate their interest by return e-mail or by phoning Richard Mori at (603) 801-7176 or Duane A. Stevens at (413) 320-3701.  Contracts should be remitted to:  MW Book Fairs, 4 High Street, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts 01370.

Thank you for your support as we strive to keep live antiquarian book and ephemera shows alive!