Book collecting is not just hoarding. It’s also not just for rich people. In Indy, Eve and Edward Lemon are inviting everyone to try their hand at collecting.
In 2022, the couple founded Fine Book Fairs, a company that promotes book fairs across the country. Unlike a regular book fair, Edward Lemon said this version primarily focuses on first editions, printings in dust jackets or original bindings and even bibliographies from your favorite authors.
They take the term “bookworm” to a whole new level. The Rare Book Fair strives to be educational, family friendly and affordable.
“We want people who are not just seasoned collectors, but are interested in learning more about collecting books. We want this to be an educational opportunity to explore what it means to become a book collector,” said Edward Lemon, who is originally from London and moved to the U.S. in 2016.
The event will make a stop at the Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle, on April 26. General admission is $10 and student tickets cost $8. It’s free if you are 16 or under.
If you go
Preview Night
🗓️ 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 25
📍 Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle
🎟️ $50
Indianapolis Rare Book Fair
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 26
📍 Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle
🎟️ General Admission $10, students $8, free for children 16 and under
The co-founders, who are in their late 30s, started collecting books more seriously in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as an alternative way to spend their time.
Together, the Lemons own over 1,000 books. Their collection includes a first edition of “Harry Potter,” which they bought when it was first published by Bloomsbury Publishing in 1997. Today, the same book is valued at $200,000.
At the Rare Book Fair, attendees can browse through thousands of items including books, maps, prints and letters. You can even make a bid on a first edition of “The Great Gatsby,” being offered by Buzz Bookstore.
There will be a large price range. Some books might be in the tens of thousands, others as low as $10. The event will feature 16 local and national exhibitors including, Indy Type Shop, Abstract Books, Autumn Leaves Books, Half Price Books, High Class Booker, New World Cartographic Antique Map & Print Gallery and The First Edition Rare Books.
Eve Lemon said the prices for admission are inexpensive intentionally. They hope it can encourage younger people to become collectors.
“There are multiple different reasons to collect rare books. There’s the investment reason. But also in an increasingly digital world, we’re preserving some of the artifacts, the physical artifacts, of the past,” Edward Lemon said. “There’s a difference between reading something online or on a Kindle as opposed to having the physical book with you.”
Before Saturday’s fair, you can attend a preview night with wine, finger food, first access to books and a performance by Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe.
The event is from 4-8 p.m. at the Columbia Club. Tickets are $50, price includes entry into the fair and featured speaker Kermit Roosevelt III, the great-great grandson of former President Teddy Roosevelt at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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