The 31st Vermont Book, Postcard & Ephemera Fair is right around the corner. Sunday, June 1, 2025. This spring event will once again be held in St. Albans, Vermont in the St. Albans City Hall, located on Main Street. This fun fair will be held 10am-4pm. And yes, FREE admission. Nothing to stop you from attending.

Most dealers save their best pieces for the fairs, and quite often you can obtain a long-sought item that has been kept in reserve for the occasion. – Robert A. Wilson, Modern Book Collecting.

And that is exactly what I have done. So far, I have set aside four boxes. Three are seen here which I’ve stacked before the counter.
Look for books on the Revolutionary War, spirituality, Buddhism, James Joyce, and others, as well as related booklets and postcards.

VABA book fairs are always fun. Fun to meet and talk to other book sellers. Many are happy to share their expertise or even just talk books. The books brought to the shows are varied as our shops are. Generally, the stock represents what is offered on their shelves. You are allowed to pick up a book – gingerly, of course – open it and give it your inspection. The books should be marked as to their cost. Maybe I shouldn’t type this, but it really isn’t polite to try to haggle with the shopkeeper. Remember, they carted the books to St. Albans, set up the display, and will sit/stand throughout the fair. And of course, any not sold have to be reboxed and reshelved back into their store.
I go mainly for the comradery with the booksellers and meeting new people interested in books and reading. And seeing familiar faces from my store. Always a pleasant surprise. And seeing what was brought to the sale by my fellow booksellers.

There are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books.
– Irving Stone, Clarence Darrow for the Defense

Hope to see you in St. Albans or at the least, in my shop in Middlebury.

Books are, let’s face it, better than everything else. – Nick Hornby, The Polysyllabic Spree