A Review of The First Annual Seattle Book and Paper Show

Exhibition Hall- Seattle Center; May 30th & 31st, 2009

by Priscilla Lowry-Gregor, Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books

It took an awfully courageous team of show producers to introduce, mount and successfully pull off a new Antiquarian Book and Print Show during this past year's tempestuous economy.   However, that is just what the juggernaut team of Louis Collins and David Gregor, Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair Producers, managed to achieve.

The concept was simple.  Create and then offer a stream-lined; no carpet, and no pipe and drape thus more economical, version of the long running and successful Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair, which has been held for the past 22 consecutive years every Columbus Day Weekend.  This newer May Seattle Book and Paper Show would appeal to both veteran and first time book and print sellers, and in addition, offer an opportunity for those online only dealers to show up in person, and meet, greet and sell to new and established clientele and colleagues.

Another important concept of this new Seattle Book and Paper Show was to offer a bit of a “book fair primer” for both exhibitors who had yet to get their feet wet as one of the trained professionals on the book fair circuit, and to fledgling book fair visitors who had never attended an antiquarian book/print/paper event.

I think we all remember our early daunting and exhausting experiences as both visitor and exhibitor attending our very first antiquarian book fairs, with the hundreds of dealers to navigate, and the tens to hundreds of thousands of books, prints and documents to view and consider.  The concept here in Seattle last May was, keep it simple, and yet make it appealing.   And from the raging reviews and comments from both exhibitors and visitors, it was indeed a success.  And true to form, it all went off smoothly under the fine attentions of Collins & Gregor.

The Seattle Book and Paper Show was billed as "thousands of used and collectible books, prints, maps, poster, photographs, postcards & ephemera" and appealed to a wide variety of dealers who offered everything from cigar labels to 15th century Illuminated Manuscript pages, enticing to every sort of buyer of which there was no shortage.  This event attracted roughly two thirds of the number of October Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair visitors, with many as first time attendees.

From its inception, many of the “A-team” of PNW-ABAA Booksellers, including John Lang, Taylor Bowie, Mark Gappa, Peter Siegel, Bob Gavora, and yours truly, Priscilla Lowry-Gregor signed on to this new venture, pledging a commitment help to foster the vitality of bookselling here in the Northwest.  Our PNW Chapter may be small, but we are indeed mighty.  The final tally of ABAA members who travelled from as far as the Bay area and Chicago to contribute to the eclectic mix and camaraderie included Don Conner, Bud Plant, Anne Hutchison and Laurence Van De Carr and the hometown boys, Wessel & Lieberman.  In addition, dozens of Seattle dealers and October Book Fair regulars were in attendance, as well as several first time exhibitors.  In total there were 43 booths rented, with each exhibitor spreading out to fill the better part of the Ex-hall space.

The bare offerings challenged a few dealers at their booth setups, but almost every exhibitor presented their inventory in an attractive and orderly fashion.  Remember- booth styling is never a given, and here is one case where you tend to reap what you sow.

There was a fine coffee service provided to the exhibitors by the ABAA-PNW Chapter, which kept everyone wired in true Seattle style.  All in all, spirits were high, with the obligatory and much anticipated wining and dining with friends and colleagues during the weekend.

So how did we all do? Almost across the board- Great! Most colleagues were more than pleasantly surprised at both the number of visitors for what turned out to be the most beautiful weekend the Seattle area had seen all year, and number of sales procured.  Several dealers altered the nature of their offerings, and brought less expensive stock, as this was billed as a more informal venue, and yet high end material sold right along with the lesser offerings.  More than one dealer reported a range in single item sales from under $25 to over $1,000.  In addition to the sales opportunity, the Seattle Book and Paper Show provided a fine opportunity to grade one's lesser stock against the offerings of the low-end dealers.  On more than one occasion I heard a dealer say his low-end material was priced much higher than the average.  It's good to know the playing field, as it were.

As a bonus, the Seattle Book and Paper Show provided a great opportunity to sell inexpensive ephemera and paper material without the never-ending task of scanning and uploading to one's website.  And as can be expected during this economy, there were a few dealers offering boothwide sales; “All Books /$10.00 each”.  Even such- you get what you pay for and I wasn't tempted.  Yet there was indeed something for everyone!

In several cases retail sales appeared to be about one half of what one would have done at the October Fall Show, yet not surprisingly, more than a few colleagues offered no change in their final sales tally.  It was reported that out of town dealer buying topped off the shows of more than one exhibitor.  The word is definitely out- this is one show to shop, and the buying is good.  I, for one, altered my offerings just a bit for this show and brought more unframed material than usual and a wider selection of inexpensive, but fine, color-plate books and was busy making sales from the beginning to the bitter end.  In addition, the fun thing about this type of event is that one tends to see a bit more cash than usual.  Always a plus, and something to look forward to.

Next year's Seattle Book and Paper Show is scheduled for May 30 & 31st.  Don't miss out!

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