4:48pm Thursday 15th May 2008
By Gazette Reporter
The Bath Book Fair will be held this weekend in the Assembly Rooms, Bennett St Friday 16th May 11.00am to 6.00pm and Saturday 17th May 10.30am to 4.00pm.
The Bath Book Fair has a reputation as one of the biggest and the best Book Fairs in Britain. Indeed Fair Managers Chris Phillips and Victor Adams report that 2007 was the most vibrant fair yet with well over 1000 visitors. The venue will, as usual, be The Assembly Rooms in the heart of Georgian Bath a prestigious venue for a prestigious event. On street parking is possible in the immediate vicinity and the Charlotte Street long stay car park is near by.
Around one hundred exhibitors, including key London dealers as well as more locally based booksellers, will have books, maps and prints for sale. The range of exhibitors ensures that there will be a huge variety of material on all subjects and at all prices, to be found amongst the shelves. There will be beautiful and rare antiquarian volumes at somewhat rarefied prices, but The Fair aims to have books for all and prices start at a few pounds and you might pick up a book signed by the famous or infamous as an added bonus. It is a family friendly event and aims to encourage the keen reader and future collectors as well as the existing book aficionados.
The Fair will open at 11.00 am on the 16th May and keen collectors will have gathered by then to seek out their first finds of the day. There are some intriguing books on offer at this yearís fair, including ëWalks Through Bathí, an uncommon guide from 1819, a selection of copies of ëThe Patterson Bookí, interesting cycling classics and a wonderful copy of Christina Rossettiís Poems illustrated by Alice Meyrill circa 1916.
Visit the web site to request complementary tickets otherwise admission is £2.00 at the door. For those who might think Book Fairs are not for them, free entry will be available from 1.00pm on the Saturday only. They will quickly discover that there really is something for everyone. The web site provides detailed information about the booksellers attending. Once at the fair there is easy access for the disabled, as well as good quality bar and caf facilities open throughout the event.
Admission on the door £2 or by invitation.
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