York Antiquarian Book Seminar
I recently attended the York Antiquarian Book Seminar, a three and a half day Educational Programme covering a variety of fundamental subjects relating to Bookselling and Book collecting. The beautiful city of York was a wonderful and very apt location to hold the Seminar in, given the City’s esteemed book history. For example, York is where the world renowned Sotheran’s Rare Books & Prints was first established in 1761. The city continues to be home to many great Booksellers and Bookshops such as Lucius Books, Fossgate Books and Janette Ray Booksellers, which I enjoyed visiting during my stay in York. When you are next in York, please do visit and support these wonderful Bookshops. York is also the location of the PBFA’s flagship annual Book Fair.
There were fascinating and insightful talks from the highly respected tutors and specialists within the book trade. These included presentations from Joan Winterkorn on Archives, James Hallgate from Lucius Books on Modern First Editions, and Lucy Evans on the work of Institutions, in her capacity as Curator of Printed Heritage Collections at the British Library. Listening to them speak about their careers and career highlights was really interesting.
The Tutors who ran the Seminar Programme are amongst the most esteemed members of the Rare Book Trade: Anthony Smithson and Alice Laverty of Keel Row Books, Sophie Schneideman of Sophie Schneideman Rare Books & Prints, Stephen Foster of Foster Books, Jonathan Kearns of Jonathan Kearns Rare Books & Curiosities, Simon Beattie, Adam Douglas of Peter Harrington, and Deborah Coltham of Deborah Coltham Rare Books. Riley Grant, ABA Company Secretary, oversaw the smooth running and organisation of the programme. I am grateful to everyone who gave so generously of their time to attend the Seminar programme. The energy and enthusiasm they all possess for rare books was very evident and inspiring to the delegates in attendance.
The Tutors provided presentations on a variety of subjects including, but not limited to: Bookselling fundamentals, cataloguing and bibliographical descriptions, binding styles, cataloguing ephemera and archives.
One evening we had a very enjoyable and informative tour of the Thin Ice Press, the working print press in the English Department at York University. We were each able to have a go at some pressing of our own. Note to self: More ink needed to the edges of the press next time!
The York Antiquarian Book Seminar was a thoroughly enjoyable edifying Programme which I would recommend to all stakeholders across the Rare Book sphere including Collectors, Booksellers, Auctioneers, Librarians and Academics. I particularly enjoyed spending time with the tutors and other delegates who share my passion for rare books and the enrichment they bring to our lives.
