The Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB) is a member organisation for dealers in antiquarian and rare books, manuscripts and related materials in Australia and New Zealand.
Formed in 1977, ANZAAB is one of the 22 members of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) and with over 50 members is the third largest association of antiquarian booksellers in the English speaking world.
ANZAAB promotes the standing, welfare, and growth of the local antiquarian book trade, one of its main activities is to hold Rare Book Fairs open to the public.
The inaugural Australian Antiquarian Booksellers’ Fair was held at Monash University in August 1972. Nine local booksellers, and one London bookseller, Bernard Quaritch, exhibited. In past years, the Fair regularly alternated between Sydney and Melbourne venues. However, in 1979 and 1992 the Fair was held in Perth and in 2004, the 20th Australian Antiquarian Fair coincided with the 37th ILAB Congress in Melbourne at the historic Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens.
For the past few years, there have been two Australian Antiquarian Book Fairs each year – Melbourne in July coinciding with Melbourne Rare Book Week and Sydney in late October/early November.
In 2026 the Fairs will be held in Melbourne on the 30th and 31st July at the Wilson Hall, in The University of Melbourne and in Sydney on October 22nd to the 24th at the Glasshouse in the State Library of NSW.
The display of the ANZAAB logo is a guarantee by its members ensuring:
- the authenticity of all material offered for sale
- the expert and proper description of all such material
- the disclosure of all significant defects or restorations
Read more about ANZAAB on their website anzaab.com
View their Membership Directory here and here you can find the members’ bookshops.
