The Rochester
Antiquarian Book Fair

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Among the longest continuously running (notwithstanding the pandemic) regional book fairs in the United States, The Rochester Antiquarian Book Fair continues to attract hundreds of visitors from diverse backgrounds and age demographics. A wide variety of printed materials can be found, including but not limited to, ephemera, local history, photographs, signed materials, incunabula, maps, and so much more.

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The fair’s origins began in April of 1972 with two colleagues, a book dealer and the Director of Special Collections at the University of Rochester Rare Books Library, having lunch with each other. They decided to inaugurate a book fair to help support the Friends of the UR Library. The early fairs were held in the Reserve Reading Room and attracted up to 30 exhibitors from New York State.

Today, the Rochester Antiquarian Book Fair includes dealers from all over the East Coast and Midwest, as well as a handful of local authors. The fair has evolved to include good secondhand books--not necessarily antiquarian or rare--ephemera of all kinds and new books of local, collector or scholarly interest. Rochester boasts a large academic population and a strong background in the humanities. Collectors young and old attend the book fair each year for the chance to see and acquire interesting and one-of-a-kind literary and historical items from the world of print. It is a great opportunity for dealers in books and other printed material to meet and network with colleagues and make new connections within the community.

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The venue has changed several times and the fair is now housed at its former venue, the Dome Arena in Henrietta, NY. The book fair is sponsored by the Rochester Area Booksellers Association and RIT Press. The event now has a lively, festive atmosphere of people who appreciate the aesthetic and intellectual
aspects of the book.

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Please DO NOT bring materials you wish to sell to exhibitors. If you are interested in selling materials to specific exhibitors, you may speak with them and arrange a time outside of the event to do so. We reserve the right to refuse admission or hold these materials at the admissions table while you attend the event. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.