OH, THE DISCUSSIONS HE MUST HAVE HAD

That the 17th century philosopher Rene Descartes would utter the quotation attributed to him about “a conversation with the finest minds” is hardly surprising, considering the virtual discussions he must have had with his predecessors.

He disagreed vehemently with some of those finest minds, and proceeded to say so in his own books.

Besides being brilliant in science and math, he was particularly strong minded about philosophy. Indeed, he’s credited with originating modern philosophy, and many of his books are still studied today.

We present his thoughts on reading good books because they reflect our own view, and we think, naturally, that the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is a wonderful place to connect with the finest minds of past centuries.

We hope you agree, and we hope we’ll see you at the book fair on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. Just search for the 2025 book fair. You also can visit our website at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com.

#rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversparadise.

Have you seen Anne of Green Gables at the book fair?

We think it’s entirely appropriate to imagine that Anne of Green Gables, the delightful, redheaded heroine of early 20th century children’s literature, might be prowling the aisles at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair.

After all, Anne Shirley was an imaginative and mostly happy girl with a gift of gab who brought a certain brightness to the lives of the people in her small Canadian coastal town.

We like to think she’d be checking to see how many copies of the 1908 children’s novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery she could find. And, of course, sharing with everyone tales of what she had been up to more recently — well, since the novel ended.

One thing that certainly would delight Anne with an E is the vast collection of not only children’s books, but books of all kinds on every subject imaginable, not to mention maps, fine art prints, and all sorts of ephemera. We imagine her striking up conversations with booksellers all over The Coliseum, and making plans to keep in touch.

You can satisfy your curiosity about whether Anne makes it to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair by joining us on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

We’ll be on the lookout for Anne, and we hope you will be, too.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. Just search for the 2025 book fair. You also can visit our website at floridaantiquasrianbookfair.com.

See you there.

#rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversparadise.

Michael Slicker, chairman of the book fair, welcomes you

MICHAEL SLICKER, chairman of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, invites book lovers to join us for the 42nd annual event at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com and will be available at the Box Office (cash only). Please visit our website.

Be sure to visit Rare Book Cafe, our internet streamed program about antiquarian books and related subjects. You can find us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Subscribe to Book Lovers’ Paradise Magazine (IT’S FREE!): Here’s a link to the latest issue: It is by collectors for collectors, and it is produced in paradise for book lovers everywhere.

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is the oldest and largest antiquarian book fair in the Southeastern United States, and one of the largest in the nation.
 

Enjoy Jane Austen in paradise and so much more at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in March in St. Petersburg

Jane Austen published Pride and Prejudice in 1813. More than 200 years later, it’s still a favorite among discerning readers. Will there be a copy at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in March?

We can’t guarantee it, of course. The myriad booksellers who exhibit at the book fair make the choices of what they bring to the book fair. But it’s highly likely you’ll find a copy or make a connection with someone who has the same passionate interest in Jane Austen and her contemporaries.

We thought it appropriate that our avid reader have a copy of Pride and Prejudice as she enjoys a glass of wine at the beach at the end of the day. It captures the allure of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, doesn’t it? And it’s why we say it’s a Book Lovers’ Paradise.

St. Petersburg. It’s a destination. The Sunshine City in the Sunshine State. The beach close by. Many of our fairgoers who don’t already live here turn the occasion of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair as a reason for a vacation. Believe us. We understand completely.

This is another in our series of images highlighting the fascinating and varied selection of printed material you’ll find at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

Of course, there's much more to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair than the ever-popular Jane Austen. Keep an eye out for more in the weeks leading up to the book fair. 

Tickets are already available at Eventbrite.com. Visit our website at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com.

#rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #booksinboston #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversparadise.

 

🔴 Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK No. 82: Books in Boston (what a show!) Now looking toward St. Petersburg in March!

In this episode, the discussion is focused on the just-concluded Books in Boston Shadow Show and the upcoming Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. 

Co-host Ed Markiewicz, fresh from the Books in Boston Shadow Show, congratulates Richard Mori, one of the organizers of Books in Boston, on a terrific show. Richard said there was good attendance, and Ed attested to having a successful show. 

Meanwhile, co-host Lee Linn, who exhibited at Boston last year and had a mishap that resulted in a broken leg and a broken arm, said she missed being at Boston and said she intends to be there next year. The discussion continues with fond memories of the Boston show and of shows past in Florida, which is in its 42nd year. 

Both Lee and Richard have exhibited at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair for years. They hoped to convince Ed that he should be there, too. Alas, Ed revealed that he will be out of the country in March, traveling in Europe. Perhaps Ed will share video of his European adventures for upcoming episodes of Rare Book Cafe. 

A SPECIAL REQUEST: Please SHARE this program with your book loving friends. If this is the first time you've watched Rare Book Cafe, let us know what you think in the comments. If you're a regular watcher, tell us in the comments how often and what you enjoy about the show. 

Our Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK series offers short programs, usually on a single topic. Watch for more in the series. 

Co-hosts Ed Markiewicz and Lee Linn are veteran antiquarian booksellers. Ed owns Montgomery Rare Books & Manuscripts in Amherst, Massachusetts, and Lee owns The Ridge Books in Calhoun, Georgia. Rare Book Cafe COFFEE BREAK is made possible by the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, the oldest and largest rare, used, and collectible book fair in the southeastern United States. 

 The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair will be presented March 1-2, 2025 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. More information at floridaantiquarianbookfair.com

 #rarebooks #collectiblebooks #ephemera #ephemeraforsale #leatherboundbooks #leatherbound #antiquemapsandprints #bostonbooklovers #booksinboston #floridabookfair #floridaantiquarianbookfair #rarebookcafe #bookloversrendezvous

A SALUTE TO VETERANS DAY and our onward march to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair on the weekend of March 1-2

 IN HONOR OF VETERANS DAY, here’s the next installment of our images leading up to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair in March.

Here we have a book lover so fascinated with the history of World War I that a transformation takes place as he reads. We’re showing it visually but avid readers are familiar with the phenomenon. We get so caught up in the subject at hand that everything else melts away.

As seen here, it’s as if a giant picture window has opened up and thrust our reader right into the world he’s reading about.

We thought it appropriate to feature this image on the observance of Veterans Day, which marks the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. Though the Treaty of Versailles wasn’t signed until the following June, fighting had already ended.

As followers of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair know, our theme for 2025 is Discover Your Treasure. We’ve gone into detail elsewhere about our salute to the swashbuckling history of our region. If you missed it, be sure to read our blog.

Meanwhile, as longtime visitors to the book fair know, there will be a wide variety of offerings on every subject imaginable. Leading up to opening day on Saturday, March 1, we’ll highlight some of the topics we’ll see at the book fair, so stay tuned.