The openning ceremony of the first Hong Kong International Antiquarian Bookfair - 2007.
Although there have been a couple of Antiquarian Bookfairs in Hong Kong in past years, this is the first Western style fair with many dealers coming from all around the world.
This bookfair brings 64 of the world's leading antiquarian booksellers together. They come from Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand and USA.
The oldest known Asian and Western printed material will be shown including prayers printed in the eighth century in Japan, as well as, money printed in China in the fourteenth century. The oldest Western printed material will be represented by a page from the Guttenburg Bible which was printed in the fifteenth century in Germany.
The printing methods were of course different as each used what was available to them, but the results were the same. Books, Scrolls, Maps and Prints were produced in ever increasing numbers and many beautiful objects were printed and helped to spread knowledge, civilization and culture as we know it today.
Each generation has produced important works on paper so that the icons of culture are not restricted to any one age and will of course continue to be produced. The fair celebrates this spread over the centuries and also celebrates what is important in modern culture with many first editions of important twentieth century and even twenty first century works being present.
This fair will continue the long standing and important process of bringing together Western and Asian culture. The booksellers are here not only to sell their books but also to learn about Asian culture and books and commerce and hopefully this will lead to an increase in trade and communication and understanding. We the Western booksellers hope to learn more about Asian culture, books and printing and take this knowledge back to our customers and we hope to inspire Asian collectors and librarians to be interested in the culturally iconic masterpieces of Western culture.
From this bookfair we are aiming to commence an Asia Pacific Antiquarian Booksellers Association which will carry on the work of fostering a love and interest in old books and book collecting in the Chinese and Asian markets by conducting annual bookfairs here in Hong Kong and other cities of China.
So welcome one and all to this exciting new venture!
Paul Feain