The 2020 edition of Firsts London will honour the life and work of one of the country’s most eminent writers, Charles Dickens, in the year which marks 150 years since his death.
More than 150 exhibitors from around the world will gather to offer rare and beautiful works including books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera covering a vast array of subjects.
2020 also sees the introduction of Prints at Firsts London – a dedicated fair-within-a-fair offering original prints from leading dealers and galleries.
“We are very lucky to have this kind of fair… it’s not elitist, it’s not specialist, you don’t have to be a scholar, you just have to be someone with an immense thirst for the glory of books.” Stephen Fry, actor, writer and book collector
| Friday 5th June: | 12pm - 9pm |
| Saturday 6th June: | 11am - 7pm |
| Sunday 7th June: | 11am - 5pm |
Evolution London, Battersea Park
Queenstown Road London SW8 4NW
Exhibitor Highlights
Events at the 2019 Fair
Specialist & Author Talks
Authors and rare book specialists will provide a variety of talks throughout the weekend, join us on the mezzanine level of the fair.
Demonstrations & Activities
Alongside our booksellers, skilled craftspeople will be at work throughout the fair, demonstrating traditional and contemporary crafts that go into making a book. Come and watch, and have a go.
Specialist Tours
Explore the fair in the company of expert tour guides. Tours range from an introduction to those visiting a book fair for the first time, to revealing the hidden histories in LGBTQ+ books featured throughout the fair.
Discovery Day!
For the first time at the fair there is an opportunity to bring your rare books to be appraised on Discovery Day, Sunday 9th June between 1pm and 3pm.
Highlights from The John Wolfson Rare Book Collection
Together with our 2019 Charity Partner, Shakespeare's Globe, we are delighted to be staging an exhibition, Highlights from the John Wolfson Rare Book Collection, on the Mezzanine level.
Our Partners
The ABA is proud to partner with Biblio, Official Partner for Firsts London.
2019 Charity Partner, Shakespeare's Globe.
With many thanks to Richard Thompson Insurance Brokers for their continuing support.
Firsts London is the jewel in the crown of Rare Books London, a multi-locational festival celebrating all facets of the rare book in London. For more details visit www.rarebookslondon.com
It is presented by the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association under the auspices of ILAB. All booksellers at the fair are committed to dealing at the very highest levels, and their expertise is second to none.