Documenting The Launch of NEAS' Book and Paper Expo and Sale!

According to Nobel Prize winning author George Bernard Shaw, “Only on paper has humanity yet achieved glory, beauty, truth, knowledge, virtue, and abiding love.” If that is truly the case, then New England Antique Show's upcoming Book and Paper Exposition and Sale, to be held on May 7th in Wilmington, MA could be as close to those ideals as many of us will ever get! This brand new event, which celebrates the worlds of classic antiquarian and vintage books, ephemera, photographs, maps, autographs, historic documents, prints, and postcards, is a must-attend for any collectors or enthusiasts who can't get enough of the look, feel, and smell of vintage paper in all of its printed forms.  Here's a hint of the wonderful quality and diversity of the things you will find at the PBES!

It's time to go back to nature with this magnificent first edition copy of Camping in the Canadian Rockies by Walter Dwight Wilcox.  This 283 page book was published in 1896 by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London, and is in good to near fine condition.  The tome includes 25 full page photogravures of natural highlights of the area, including Lake Louise and Mount Assiniboine. The cover is handsome, with a distinctly arts and crafts period tone to it.  Wilcox, who lived from 1869-1949, was a pioneering explorer of Canadian Rockies. Interestingly, he had roots right here in New England, having graduated from both Phillips Academy, Andover and Yale University.

Thanks to the Brattle Book Shop of Boston, MA, who will be showing at the BPES, for sharing this great book find with us!

From the mountains to the sea...next we have a large printed folio, promoting the Fair Wind, a 1299 ton ship built by the Briggs company in South Boston in 1855.  The advertisement is 20 1/2 x 14 inches and printed in display type.  This piece is certainly rare and possibly a singular example. (It is interesting to note that The Peabody-Essex Museum has an 1852 broadside printed on cloth advertising a sailing to Panama, but nothing else from this era comes close.) It is easy to understand the rarity of this item; at the time of production, folios of this kind were printed on cheap, flimsy paper and were very common - much like a newspaper insert today.  This hitherto unknown example is evidence that broadsides were also used simultaneously with cards as a way to promote sailing vessels, at least since 1855 when the Fair Wind was launched. 

Thanks to the Ten Pound Book Island Co. of Gloucester, MA, who will be showing at the BPES, for sharing this great ephemera find with us!  

And finally, from the sea to the desert... and don't forget to send a postcard on your trip!  Our final great BPES find is a colorful 1920's-1930's era postcard promoting the musical play The Desert Song.  The card features a somewhat proper looking European woman and a mysterious Moroccan man - dressed from head to toe in red robes - against an infinite expanse of desert. The original story and score of this performance were written by the team of Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein, and Otto Harbach. The show was held at the Casino Theatre on Broadway in New York.  It debuted on November 30, 1926 and the production ran for 465 performances. It is interesting to note that the film version of The Desert Song, produced in 1929, was the first movie released in color by Warner Brother.

Thanks to Iconic Postcards of Salem, MA, who will be showing at the BPES, for sharing this great postcard find with us!  

So what will YOU discover at the BPES?  In addition to close to 90 of the finest exhibitors, world-class seminars, and a free valuation clinic (limit of three items per person) - perhaps the find of your collecting lifetime!

Click here for a free pass to the show for Vintage Val's pals, which is May 7th from 10am to 5pm at the Shiner's Auditorium in Wilmington, MA.  Just print it out and bring it along, it's that easy!  Looking forward to seeing you there.

What is your very favorite antiquing, vintage, or design find? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Learn more about New England Antique Shows and their upcoming events by clicking here.