The ABA’s first ‘virtual fair’ will launch the 5th of June 2020 at 12:00GMT at www.firstslondon.com. (5th – 12th June 2020)
Friday 5th June: 2pm – 11pm
Friday 12th June: 12am – 11pm
This article was published online by Fine Books & Collections
London — Due to the ongoing uncertainties related to the COVID-19 situation, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association (ABA) has made the difficult decision to cancel their flagship event Firsts – London’s Rare Book Fair 2020. Due to take place from the 5th-7th June 2020 at Battersea Evolution, the fair would have celebrated its 63rd anniversary and coincided with the 150th anniversary of the death of writer
and author Charles Dickens.
The virtual Firsts London will work as follows. Exhibitors who would have attended Firsts London 2020, will be able to upload and showcase up to 12 highlights on the website. The items will go live at noon on Friday 5th June for viewing and will remain online for the coming weeks. Contact details for each exhibitor as well as catalogues will be available for potential buyers and those interested in enquiring about a particular item.
London’s First posted the following statements on their official homepage:
The 2020 edition of Firsts London has sadly been cancelled. We look forward to welcoming you in 2021. While we wait for 2021, we invite you to partake in Firsts Online a digital version of our rare book fair.
Over 100 Exhibitors from 14 countries will gather to offer rare and beautiful works including books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera covering a vast array of subjects.
Each exhibitor has been invited to showcase up to 12 highlights from what would have been their exhibited stock at the annual fair in London. This smaller showcase of items has encouraged the dealers to upload many of their most interesting and significant pieces, creating a remarkable and diverse selection from around the world.
“We are very lucky to have this kind of fair… it’s not elitist, it’s not specialist, you don’t have to be a scholar, you just have to be someone with an immense thirst for the glory of books.”
Stephen Fry, actor, writer and book collector
News Source links:
First’s London Rare Book Fair
Fine Books & Collections
