WESTFIELD - A list of well-recognized venues for antique book fairs may soon include London, Santa Monica, Allentown, Toronto - and Westfield.
The Chautauqua County Historical Society hopes its debut of a unique fundraising opportunity will put the local community on the map for book dealers and collectors.
"This is the first book-and-paper show in the Chautauqua region," said Jack Ericson, board member at the Chautauqua County Historical Society.
He said although the area is routinely dotted with library, church or school fundraisers of a similar nature, these events are small in comparison.
"This is much more specialized," he said, "and each dealer will bring their own specialty."
For sellers and collectors, a formal book sale includes old books and rare books, and in this venue patrons can expect to see subjects such as natural science, children's stories, local geography and history, Ericson said. But that is only part of the feature, because it is also a paper show. Collectors can expect to see all types of available media and records.
To the dealer, these items are considered ephemera, which Ericson said are "items that are throw-away."
In general, ephemera is paper and small artifacts that were not intended to be preserved, and this show will even feature manuscripts, sheet music, Civil War letters and "everything from matchbook covers to fine early Chautauqua maps."
Ericson said he will set up his own display which includes photographs, ephemera and books on photography.
Scheduled to appear in Westfield are 25 individual dealers who trade in books, postcards, stamps and art. Some are from Jamestown and neighboring communities, and others come from across New York state and beyond.
Ericson is working as the "dealer manager" for the show, since he said he is most familiar with other dealers across the midwest and East Coast. These regions are host to circuits of large-scale shows, and at a particular venue there could be 100 to 150 dealers, he said. Ericson has managed to enlist a few of these to make the trip to Westfield.
In the existing circuits, the closest venues are in Columbus and Cleveland in the midwest, while Rochester and Toronto form the limits of the eastern circuit. That leaves an area in the middle including Pittsburgh, Buffalo and the Niagara frontier without notable venues, and Ericson said the potential for Westfield is to become a center of the dealing world.
"My hope is to develop this eventually into a big regional show," he said.
But for now, Ericson is hoping for a successful start to secure the same event next year. Advertising in local media and the national publications for book shows was an expensive venture, he said.
"I do not expect this year or next that there will be income from this show, that will benefit the society," he said. "Any funds received, next year we will put back into promotion."
Each of the 25 booths each pay a display fee and patrons will pay $5 admission. An entry form will be handed out for door prizes at the event.
The Book & Paper Show will be held at the Firemen's Exempt Hall at 75 Bourne St., in Westfield, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
"There are a lot of paper collectors out there, and a lot of people interested in certain kinds of books. I expect a great crowd," Ericson said.
For more information and directions, contact Ericson at 326-2977.