Treasures to Look For at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair

The fair features a fascinating array of rare books, maps, manuscripts, first editions, and other materials, by Katherine McGrath on Architectural digest





Treasures to Look For at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair
The fair features a fascinating array of rare books, maps, manuscripts, first editions, and other materials
TEXT BY 
KATHERINE MCGRATH
Posted March 7, 2018

Every year, the arrival of the Armory Show sets New York City aflurry with satellite fairs, art parties, events, and more. Chief among the shows not to miss is the New York Antiquarian Book Fair, a celebration where book lovers can browse a vast selection of rare books, photographs, maps, manuscripts, first editions, and other materials at the Park Avenue Armory. The subject matter is diverse, featuring a broad array of topics including medicine, art, literature, Americana, photography, autographs, and more. The fair is sanctioned by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, meaning you can have trust that each item at the fair has been carefully vetted for authenticity and completeness. Now in its 58th year, the fair is produced by Sanford L. Smith and Associates, and will run from March 8 through the 11th. Ahead, the fair's executive director, Sanford Smith, shares his favorite picks for art, architecture, and design lovers with AD PRO.
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

WILLIAMS, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. (New York: New Directions, 1947).
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$8,500 Exhibitor: Whitmore Rare Books Inc Booth Number: C4
A first edition of Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize–winning play.
Russell Maret

Maret, Russell. Interstices & Intersections: Thirteen Euclidean Propositions... [ New York ]: Russell Maret. 2014.
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
Price Upon Request
Exhibitor: Boreas Fine Art Booth Number: A11
Artist Russell Maret drew inspiration from Euclid's The Elements of Geometry, using one proposition from each of the 13 books in Euclid's work. He then created commentary and illustrations for each that have been called "a tour de force of colon printing" by the Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress.
Drawing by Pablo Picasso

Linogravures [Linocuts] An original black ink drawing by Pablo Picasso of a faun’s head, with an autograph inscription signed and dated by the artist to “Sergueï, son ami Picasso le 4.5.57” [Sergey, his friend Picasso], on a leaf laid down on the endpaper.
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$22,000 Exhibitor: Librairie Le Feu Follet Booth Number: A31
An original drawing of a faun's head in black ink, likely made for the choreographer Serge Lifar, for whom Picasso designed costumes and sets.
Le Mur by Jean-Paul Sartre

SARTRE Jean-Paul. Le Mur [The Wall]
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$28,000 Exhibitor: Librairie Le Feu Follet Booth Number: A31
This first edition is in a special black calf binding by C. and J.P. Miguet, and features an inscription from Monsieur Sartre himself. The book's spine is blind-stamped with the book's title, and and the covers are crafted in a mosaic of perspective geometric patterns in red, orange, and burgundy calf.
Le Café-Concert print, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC Henri de. Jeanne Avril – Le Café Concert
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$1,800 Exhibitor: Librairie le Feu Follet Booth Number: A31
A very rare print from Toulouse-Lautrec's "Le Café-Concert" series that features his friend the cabaret singer Jeanne Avril.
Six Photographic Views of the Pyramids by Francis Frith

FRITH, Francis (1822–1898). "A Series of Six Photographic Views of the Pyramids." First Edition of one of the most renowned 19th-century Photobooks, (The Photobook). Mammoth Plate Albumen Prints.
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
Price Upon Request
Exhibitor: Roland Belgrave Vintage Photography
Booth Number: E30
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Produced in the 1800s, these prints were considered groundbreaking at the time, showing off the medium's ability to render forms and textures of the world. The collector notes that it is particularly unusual to come across the opportunity to acquire six mammoth photographs of the Pyramids by Francis Frith, as they are normally only sold as part of a larger set.
Overpainted Photographic Cutout Portrait by Salvador Dalì

DALI, Salvador. Overpainted Photographic Cutout Portrait, Signed Twice (NY, 1970)
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$20,000 Exhibitor: Biblioctopus Booth Number: C11
A one-off multimedia self-portrait by the surrealist painter that shows off his vision and whimsy.
Portrait of Andy Warhol by Marc Trivier

WARHOL Andy & TRIVIER Marc. Original black-and-white photograph, n. p. 1981–1982, 220 x 220 mm (8 11/16 x 8 11/16 ”) on Ilford paper 300 x 400 mm (11 13/16 x 15 3/4 ”), made and printed by Marc Trivier
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$5,000 Exhibitor: Librairie Le Feu Follet Booth Number: A31
It was customary for Marc Trivier to leave most of his works unsigned, and this photo of Andy Warhol is no exception. Trivier photographed a plethora of subjects, both famous and unknown, but approached each with the same intensity and passion.
On My Account by Keith Haring

Keith Haring, 8 1/2 x 11 inches On My Account – Keith, 1989
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$6000 Exhibitor: Harper’s Books Inc Booth Number: A21
Handwritten notes and drawings on Keith Haring, Inc., letterhead, as well as a signature from the artist.
The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam
Closeup of a design binding by Jackie Scott for O. Khayyam’s Rubaiyat
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
Price Upon RequestExhibitor: Lux Mentis Booth Number: E3
Hansel and Gretel by Arthur Rackham
Design binding by Gabby Cooksey on Rackham's Hansel and Gretel
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
Price Upon RequestExhibitor: Lux Mentis Booth Number: E3
Liberté J'´Ecris Ton Nom by Paul Eluard, design by Fernand Léger
LEGER, Fernand. Liberte J'Ecris Ton Nom. Text by Paul Eluard. Broadside, 117 x 290 cm. (11 3/8 x 44 inches), with brightly colored pochoir design by Fernand Léger. Paris: Editions Seghers, 1953.
Image courtesy of The New York Antiquarian Book Fair.
$22,500 Exhibitor: Ursus Books LTD Booth Number: A1
An extremely rare broadside with bright colors that features text from Eluard's celebrated poem with pochoir design from Léger.