Feast on Rare Books This Weekend at the Antiquarian Book Fair

From Thursday, March 9 through Sunday, March 12, the Antiquarian Book Fair will return to the Park Avenue Armory for its 57th annual iteration, bringing together over two hundred American and international dealers for a four-day extravaganza of rare books, maps, manuscripts, and other assorted ephemera. Book lovers and collectors will have access to a diverse repertoire of authentic, valuable, and worthy wares covering everything from art and medicine to literature, photography, and more.

Among the exhibit’s most highly-touted attractions is the Alexander Hamilton Collection, which will be shown here publicly for the first time; its many letters, documents, and imprints unpack some of the most intimate details of Hamilton’s life and also shed light on the inner workings of how this nation came to be. The package includes a licentious love letter Hamilton sent to his wife, Eliza; a first edition of the Federalist Papers; and even a lock of Hamilton’s hair.

As the continued success of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton illustrates, the story of an orphaned immigrant has never been more relevant and captivating, and now, thanks to the work of Seth Kaller and John Reznikoff (who together assembled the collection), a wider audience will have a chance to look back at the details of this pivotal Founding Father.

The Antiquarian Book Fair will take place at the Park Avenue Armory, at 643 Park Avenue. Information about the rest of the exhibitors can be found on the fair’s website. The Voice will be sending a handful of reporters to the event; check back next week to see the coverage.