© Wilmotte & Associés Architectes

History

In June 1984, at the initiative of its President Jeanne Laffite, the Syndicat national de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (SLAM) organised by the first International Antiquarian Book Fair at the Conciergerie in Paris. The event held in this historic building was a major success and every two years, booksellers from around the world adopted the habit of travelling to Paris to exhibit a wide variety of exceptional documents.
In 1993, the Book Fair took up residence in the Maison de la Mutualité, with the bibliophilic event becoming an annual encounter in 1995.
Since April 2007, the nave of the Grand Palais has played joint host to the Antiquarian Book Fair organized by the Syndicat national de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne, and the International  Print and Drawing Fair organized by the Chambre Syndicale de l'Estampe, du Dessin et du Tableau.

In 2015, the International Antiquarian Book, Print and Drawing Fair, became the International Rare Book, Autograph, Print and Drawing Fair, and in 2016 the SLAM became the organizer of the entire event.
From 2017 to 2019, the Rare Book Fair was organized at the same time as the Fine Art Fair.
In September 2020, only the Rare Book Fair took place. The 2021 edition will bring together two parts of the fair, Rare Books on the one hand and Experts in Fine Art on the other, under the sole direction of SLAM, and with the support and collaboration of four Experts Companies: CNE, CNES, FNEPSA and CEA. A unique opportunity for exhibitors and their Companies to give real visibility to the determining role of the experts and to highlight the most beautiful fine art objects from all specialities.
 

Where Rare Books meet Fine Art

Now the finest event of its kind in France, and one of the most significant in the world, with 150 booksellers from around the globe, all affiliated to the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB). A veritable treasure trove, and a unique occasion to discover the finest array of exceptionnal, rare, or unusual pieces. Visitors are invited to take a fabulous journey following the traces left by the human mind over the centuries.

The oldest works of art dating back to the first books are displayed alongside the most groundbreaking avant-garde pieces to the delight of connoisseurs: extraordinary sources, personal manuscripts, prints and drawings from every period, shimmering bindings and more! Wander the aisles of the Fair and discover timeless creative expression with an international heritage value. A stroll around the alleys of the fair is a journey of discovery through timeless artistic expressions with a universal heritage value.

The expert at the centre of the art market

This Fair is also the only event which brings together independent experts in fine art, who belong to one of the four partner Chambers: CEA [Chamber for Expertise in Art and Antiques], CNE [National Chamber of Art Experts], CNES [National Chamber of Specialist Experts] and FNEPSA [National Federation for Professional Art Experts]. These expert chambers ensure that their highly qualified members have sufficient specialist knowledge and apply strict ethical rules.

Alongside 40 experts offering the sale of fine art chosen from their respective fields, several events and conferences will reveal the skills and specialist knowledge of these strict professionals, who have resolved to put their passion for fine art to use in the market.