Tome raiders
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.
Other tempting volumes include a 19th-century edition of the complete works of Geoffrey Chaucer (HK$600,000), a copy of the first edition of Gone With the Wind (HK$180,000) signed by six members of the movie cast and the snappily titled An Historical Essay Endeavouring a Probability that the Language of the Empire of China is the Primitive Language, by John Webb, published in 1669 and with an asking price of HK$145,000.
The IAB is being greeted with particular enthusiasm by Hong Kong's select coterie of dealers in antiquarian books.
'This second fair is going to be a huge benefit to us,' says Chris Bailey of Central's Picture This gallery.
'Our customers come from all over the world, and while there are opportunities nowadays to buy and sell on the internet, nothing compares to the sight and feeling of a rare book.
'Antiquarian books and the like are a good investment: they've performed well in recent years and there's been no bubble; but you don't collect unless you really love what you buy. I tell customers I'm selling them something they should enjoy,' he says.
Lorence Johnston, who runs Lok Man Rare Books on Hollywood Road, is similarly enthused by the prospect of the fair. 'The strange thing is that this did not start a lot earlier,' he says.
'In any other major city - New York, London, Frankfurt - book fairs are a matter of course and antiquarian books are an expanding market, so Hong Kong deserves its own fair.
'It's really important to put on a good show at a fair like this, so I'll be setting out a carpet and a leather armchair to encourage some lengthy browsing. We see all sorts of customers, from pure collectors to people looking for a special gift to mark a business deal.'
For Jonathan Wattis of Wattis Fine Art in Central, the IAB is a welcome augury for the new year.
'The fair has tremendous potential to help Hong Kong, China and the international antiquarian book trade develop,' Wattis says.
'There may be a few useful lessons for the future: now we are in an unfortunate cycle, when some people are clutching at books by greybeards to find solutions to the present.'
Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations is a case in point.
