Florida Book Fair: A collector finds what he wants

Here's a word from bookseller Ken Hebenstreit of Royal Oak, Michigan, one of the rare book dealers you'll meet at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, March 8-10, 2013 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is the southeast's oldest and largest antiquarian book fair. It features more than 115 dealers in books, maps, photographs, prints, ephemera and autographs. You can find rare books, collectible books and out-of-print books at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. BUY TICKETS ONLINE | GET MORE INFORMATION

Why come to the Book Fair?

Share this with the book lover in your life. Here's the link to the 2013 Florida Antiquarian Book Fair event on Facebook. You can find more information about the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair here.

Book fair: Flappers at The Coliseum!

What a delight to see a return of flappers to The Coliseum! The '20s-era dance venue has been home to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair for years but those exuberant young women were long gone. But on Friday, booksellers Cynthia Gibson and Sunday Steinkirchner brought them back — if only for a little while. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.

Book Fair: Save a buck on admission

GET A DOLLAR OFF: Print it, bring it to the book fair. Get in for less! That's easy!

Are you a hunter or a gatherer?

Book Fair: Treasures We're Bringing

Bookseller Boe Rushing reveals one of the special items he'll be bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Look for items other dealers plan to have at the book fair under this series Treasures We're Bringing. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

Book Fair: You don't need a lot of money

Bookseller Sean Donnelly says you don't have to have a lot of money to go to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Bargains abound. There are plenty of five- and ten-dollar bargains, he says. The variety of books is amazing as well. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

Book Fair: Robb Versandi on sharing information

Bookseller Robb Versandi says one of the extraordinary things about the book fair is the amount of information dealers willingly share with one another and with their customers. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

Book Fair: Boe Rushing on loving books

Bookseller Boe Rushing says that anyone who loves books ought to come to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair to see the amazing selection. They may see books they'll never see again in their lifetime. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

Timeless literature as you like it

Book Fair: Treasures We're Bringing

Bookseller David Brown shows a copy of Ernest Hemingway's Green Hills of Africa, one of the special volumes he'll be bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Look for special items other dealers will be bringing to the book fair.

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

Book Fair: George Spiero on young book lovers

Bookseller George Spiero discusses the people in their 20s he enjoys seeing at the book fair. He's not worried about Kindle, iPad and Nook. Dealers will find an audience for traditional books for a long time to come, he says.

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

Til death do us part ...

Book Fair: Anthony Griffon on sights you'll see

Anthony Griffon of Griffon's Medieval Manuscripts says there are books at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair that you will see nowhere else.

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

Book Fair: Robb Versandi on prices

Bookseller Robb Versandi says book enthusiasts on a budget need not worry. There are plenty of bargains at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair.

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave

A perfect setting for the Book Fair

The site of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, The Coliseum was featured in the 1985 movie Cocoon.

The Coliseum was built during the Roaring Twenties as a ballroom. It was the Jazz Age, and young flappers just wanted to have fun; amid the ballyhoo and trumpery of the real estate boom, the American idols of the times like crooner Rudy Vallee set hearts aflutter with their boyish good looks and their melodious voices.

St. Petersburg residents consider it a treasure, and rightly so. With its polished oak floors and graceful arches, the venue, no longer used exclusively as a dance hall, still excites those who enter its doors. It evokes a time past when jazz and swing were in the air and big names like Paul Whiteman and Harry James brought their big bands to the Sunshine City.

The city of St. Petersburg bought the building in 1989 and made extensive renovations, including a large refinishing project completed just last year.  It is considered one of the Bay area's most unique facilities, hosting trade shows, dances, banquets, and, of course, the annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair.

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