New York Antiquarian Book Fair Opening Night Benefits The New York Public Library

"Lions at the Armory": A Celebration of Literature and the Library, Thursday, April 20, at the Park Avenue Armory

For passionate readers, there's nothing quite like the thrill of leafing through a signed first edition or an author's manuscript. At "Lions at the Armory," a special preview benefiting The New York Public Library, bibliophiles will get an advance look at an extraordinary variety of literary treasures offered at the upcoming New York Antiquarian Book Fair, the most prestigious gathering of international sellers of rare books. In addition to rare books and materials, the Book Fair offers both amateur and serious collectors the chance to purchase books of every literary genre and at every price level, starting at $25. Highlights of the fair include a signed first edition of George Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman (Joseph Felcone), in which Shaw lambastes in his inscription the "craze" of collecting first editions; a rare manuscript leaf in Mozart's hand of a lost vocal duet (La Scala Autographs); an extremely rare printer's proof of Jack Kerouac's On the Road (Skyline Books); and an original broadside of Abraham Lincoln's proclamation of the first National Day of Thanksgiving from 1863 (Heritage Bookshop). A special feature of this year's Opening Night includes the chance to purchase items for the Library's collections from among materials pre-selected by Library curators. The preview will be held on Thursday, April 20, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., at The Park Avenue Armory, Park Avenue and 67th Street. Tickets for the Opening Night preview begin at $100. Information about tickets is available at 212-930-0730.

The event's co-chairs are Thomas Jayne, Hannah McFarland, and Lea Carpenter. Library Trustee Gayfryd Steinberg will create the décor for the event, which includes a lounge where attendees can mingle with Library officials and curators. The proceeds from the Preview Party will directly support The New York Public Library's Research Libraries, which include the Humanities and Social Sciences Library, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Science, Industry and Business Library.

The 46th Annual New York Antiquarian Book Fair, annually sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, returns under the management of Sanford L. Smith & Associates. Some 180 international dealers from the U.S., Japan, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Argentina, The Netherlands, France, England, Italy, and Belgium will be represented at the event, held from Friday, April 21, through Sunday, April 23. This year's Opening Night Party marks the third year of an ongoing relationship between The New York Public Library and the Antiquarian Book Fair in creating an event that is a booklover's must.

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Contact:     Tim Farrell      212.704.8600

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