Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association expands ‘Firsts’

The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association (ABA) is pleased to unveil an expansion of their ‘Firsts’ fair brand to include three upcoming online rare books fairs, in partnership with international organisations the Association of Antiquarian Booksellers of Canada (ABAC/ALAC) and the Associazione Librai Antiquari d’Italia (ALAI).

Following the success of its three online rare book fairs in 2020, the ABA is working with its Canadian and Italian counterparts to bring a series of three online rare books fairs under the names ‘Firsts Canada’, ‘Firsts Italia’ and ‘Firsts Online Winter Edition’. 

Launching the online rare book fair calendar is ‘Firsts Canada’ taking place from 5-7 February 2021 and featuring exclusively ABAC/ALAC or ILAB members.

The fourth instalment of the ABA’s online fair, Firsts Online Winter Edition, will occur from 18-23 February 2021 featuring ABA and ILAB members. New for this edition, the ABA is offering complimentary registration for its booksellers as part of an ongoing effort to showcase its membership and encourage wider participation.

The final online fair to take place will be ‘Firsts Italia’ from 18-21 March 2021 featuring ALAI and ILAB exhibitors. 

The ABA’s ‘Firsts Online’ platform was developed in 2020 in order to fill a need for ABA and ILAB booksellers to continue to trade during the pandemic and continue to reach international audiences while physical bookfairs were paused.

The Firsts Online platform has been improved and further developed to now offer a more refined experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. Working with their fair partner Biblio, the ABA is confident that the ‘Firsts Online’ model can offer other antiquarian bookseller associations the opportunity to showcase their memberships on a reoccurring basis in 2021.