The Book and Paper Fair in Tennessee returns for its latest edition

on Jul 28, 2022

The Tennessee Antiquarian Booksellers Association is hosting the 2022 Book and Paper Fair on 29-30th July at The Factory at Franklin.

The event starts on Friday from 6 pm to 9 pm. and continues till Saturday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m respectively. The entry fee is a one-time payment of $5 each.

According to the Tennessee Antiquarian Booksellers Association website, the fair will feature a variety of rare and collectible books, autographs, and more.

“Bibliophiles will discover modern first editions of literature, mystery, and science fiction. Collectible books and documents concerning the War Between the States, the American Revolution, and both World Wars will be available. Dealers specializing in children’s literature, art, religion, fine bindings, and books about books will also be exhibiting at the fair. Book prices ranging from $10 to $10,000 are sure to pique the interest of the leisure reader as well as the most avid collector.”

The book fair was founded by bookseller Tom McGee 15 years ago in Cowan, Tennessee.

Since then, Joel Tomlin of Landmark Booksellers in Franklin and George Webb of Tennessee Books and Paper in Rogersville has become the annual organizers.

"For years he's been losing money and if we're lucky we're about to break even now," Tomlin said with a smile. "It's not a big money-making event if that makes sense."

Tomlin will also be an exhibitor/distributor at the fair. The bookstore owner brought the event to Franklin because of his passion for old documents and dusty novels of surprising value.

This year he bought a collection of books by Winston Churchill and is looking forward to showing them among other things." Coming to the fair really gives you an opportunity to see books that you won't see, especially in the crowd that you will see just by going to the bookstores here," he said. "If you hadn't bought a book, you'd still have a great time."

Twenty-five dealers from across the country would share their books with the crowd at Franklin.