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Deborah & Ron Harcus have been operating Ariel
Books in Auckland, New Zealand for the past five years,
joining AbeBooks in 2003.
"We have been booksellers for about 10 years, this is our 3rd
shop. Development pressures kept on making us move. We have purchased
the premises here so we won't have to shift again," explains Deborah.
"We consider ourselves a thinking person's bookstore with specialties
in history,
local
history, philosophy
and the arts
in all its forms."
Like most booksellers Deborah and Ron love books. "We both enjoy
non fiction, particularly histories in Ron's case and design books
in mine."
And it is probably this love of books, and love of selling books
that gave them the idea to launch The Auckland Book and Antique
Fair, which is set to run August 18 & 19, 2007 at 127
Symond Street, Newton, Auckland Central.
"There hasn't been an annual fair in New Zealand for 6 years
and we think there should be one."
Although the title of the fair is The Auckland Book and Antique
Fair, books are front and centre at the event, 12 of the
available 18 stalls have been reserved by booksellers (including
other AbeBooks booksellers, Hard
to Find Books, Kauri
Books and of course Ariel
Books). Deborah explains that while New Zealand may be
a relativity small market due to the population size of the country,
the population consists of heavy readers and there are many fine
private and public collections for sellers to source from. As
this is the first year, The Auckland Book and Antique Fair
has targeted dealers close to home in the Lower North Island of
New Zealand. Deborah’s future plans however, involve growing the
fair and attracting buyers and sellers
from the whole country as well as Sydney
and Melbourne
in Australia.
“There will be something at the fair for everyone from a wide
range of Antiquarian
books, New
Zealand historical texts, map and old print dealers as well
as all of the fictional
first editions you come to expect from the knowledgeable dealers.”
Those wishing to attend can find all the appropriate information
about the festival below:
Auckland Book & Antique Fair
Old & Rare Books, Maps & Prints, Antiques, Curios & Collectables
Saturday, August 18th - 10am to 3pm
Sunday, August 19th - 10am to 3pm
127 Symonds Street,
Newton, Auckland Central
Admission - NZ$3.00
Enquiries phone – Ron Harcus (+64) 09 369-1414
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