New York International Antiquarian Book Fair 2026: Opening Night Report

The ABAA New York International Antiquarian Book Fair has returned to the Park Avenue Armory for its 66th edition, welcoming collectors, curators, tastemakers and bibliophiles for an exclusive VIP preview.

Attendance reached 2,400 on opening night, surpassing last year’s record of 1,900 and marking the highest opening night attendance in the fair’s history, with presentations from 174 exhibitors from around the world. Early reports from exhibitors indicated a good opening night.

Among reported opening night transactions were:

• Honey & Wax Booksellers highlighted a $10,000 first edition of W. B. Yeats’s Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1920), written during the Irish War of Independence
• Imperial Fine Books reported the sale of an extra-illustrated set of George Washington’s writings, as well as a first edition of Ireland’s Life of Napoleon accompanied by a note signed by Napoleon Bonaparte
• Christian White Rare Books noted the sale of a bound collection of 1790s Thomas Paine pamphlets for $4,500
• Michael Laird Rare Books reported approximately $15,000 in pre-reserved material, along with a significant walk-in sale to a new collector who acquired a set of unpublished watercolors depicting the frescoes of the Casino Felice in Rome
• Schubertiade Music & Arts reported strong early sales including a rare carte-de-visite of a Civil War Black regiment drummer
• Liber Antiquus, Early Books & Manuscripts reported multiple sales, including an album of 22 vellum miniatures depicting figures from 17th century Italian society
• Peter Harrington Rare Books sold a 19th century edition of the Magna Carta, printed entirely in gold on vellum

This year’s fair continues to reflect interest from a broadening audience, with a notable presence of younger collectors and guests underscoring the expanding cultural relevance of rare books and works on paper.

The NYIABF Ambassador Program also returned, bringing together a diverse group of collectors, creatives and cultural figures who help connect the fair to new audiences. This year’s Ambassadors include Founding Ambassador Jesse Paris Smith joined by Alexandre Assouline, Sasha Bonét, Isabella Boylston, Adam Eli, Meredith Graves, Levi Higgs, Connor Holloway, Sarah Hoover, Sarah McNally, Camille Okhio, Karah Preiss and Emma Roberts.

The fair continues through May 3.