Historic treasures from around the world will be offered at the 2025 Melbourne Rare Book Fair. Hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB), the 55th annual fair brings together the world’s leading rare book experts and dealers, to showcase stunning collections of rare books, maps, and works on paper at the largest antiquarian book fair in the southern hemisphere at Wilson Hall, within The University of Melbourne. The Book Fair is the exciting concluding event of Melbourne Rare Book Week, which delivers a rich programme of free events across the City of Melbourne and Ballarat between 24 July – 2 August.
Among the extraordinary items presented for sale at the Book Fair is the world’s first printed object, the Hyakumantō Dhāraṇī, created in Japan between 764 – 770 CE. Also on show will be one of only three letters written on board the HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin’s voyages of scientific discovery, and a hand coloured, first edition, of the world’s first illustrated encyclopaedia, the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle.
Melbourne Rare Book Fair convener and ANZAAB Vice-President Tim White, said the Melbourne Rare Book Fair is the most important rare book event in Australasia: “For 55 years the Melbourne Rare Book Fair has celebrated our long and rich connection with books and literature. It has become an essential part of the global rare book calendar. This year Melbourne hosts the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers Symposium, bringing distinguished speakers from around the world to our UNSECO City of Literature. For collectors, scholars, and enthusiasts alike, the Melbourne Rare Book Fair is a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of rare books and history and perhaps take some of it home with them.”
The ANZAAB Rare Book Fairs were established in 1972 and are now held annually in Melbourne and Sydney. The Book Fairs are globally significant rare book events attracting sellers and buyers from around the world.
