The new bibliomaniacs
6 hours ago
- #rare book collecting
- #cultural history
- #antiquarian books
- The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) was founded in 1948 to foster peace and unity through books, with the motto 'Amor Librorum Nos Unit'.
- The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) started in 1949, and its New York International Antiquarian Book Fair has seen significant growth, with a 62% increase in visitors from 2022 to 2026.
- The global rare book market is valued at over $7 billion and is growing at more than 6% annually, with 'rare books' defined not just by age but by desirability and scarcity.
- Younger generations, especially under 35, are increasingly involved in the trade, driven by a desire for tangible connections to history in the digital age, seeking items like protest posters, zines, and association copies.
- Collectors now focus on 'How did we get here' collecting, combining books with art, ephemera, and objects to trace cultural moments, with ephemera becoming central to understanding social and political history.
- The trade is diversifying, with more women and new perspectives influencing preservation, and online platforms making rare materials more accessible to newcomers.
- Notable figures like Meredith Graves and Jesse Paris Smith emphasize using and caring for books as living objects, viewing antiquarian collecting as a humble stewardship.
- Extreme cases like bibliomania involve obsessive collectors, such as Stephen Blumberg and Don Vincente, highlighting the deep passion and sometimes dark stories in book collecting.
- Rare book fairs continue worldwide, fostering community and appreciation for tangible artifacts, with a focus on preserving beauty, craftsmanship, and historical meaning.