In light of the current global economic fiasco there has probably never been a better time to read An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. But just how many punters can stump up the HK$1.1 million asking price?
Smith's celebrated treatise - admittedly a copy of the first edition, published in 1776 - is but one of the highly prized items on show at the three-day International Antiquarian Book Fair (IAB) at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
Organised by booksellers from Sydney and Tokyo as well as Hong Kong, the event, which ends tomorrow, follows the inaugural fair held in Pacific Place in 2007 and hosts dealers from all over the world.
'There are also new exhibitors from Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei,' says Jong Fang-ling, the fair's San Francisco-based publicist. 'This is the first time in history that Chinese-speaking booksellers and auctioneers like Chen Dong from Beijing Debao Auction and Liu Hsin-hua of Jia Xi Books in Taiwan have exhibited at the international antiquarian book fair, so it is truly an exciting and monumental event.'
While The Wealth of Nations and similarly priced rare books are the top draws, the IAB also includes maps, atlases, prints, photographs, posters, autographs, vintage Valentine's cards, manuscripts and memorabilia.
For example, a 16th-century map of the Spice Islands - liberally decorated with illustrations of compass roses, sea monsters, sailing barques, nutmeg, cloves and sandalwood - which inspired Dutch and British merchants to sail to Asia in search of trade, is going for HK$750,000.