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Course Content

York Antiquarian Book Seminar offers an opportunity for leading booksellers and librarians to share their expertise and experience with would-be and fledgling booksellers, librarians and collectors in a comprehensive survey of the second-hand, antiquarian and rare book markets. Basic procedures and problems are discussed both formally and informally through a series of lectures, discussions, and practical hands-on workshops with emphasis on cataloguing, pricing and bookselling.

The seminar is designed for people of all levels of expertise, from beginners to those with years of experience who want to hone their skills in this rapidly changing field.

Over the years, we have had the privilege of listening to many outstanding speakers, including our keynote speakers Rob Rulon-Miller (past president of the ABAA), Sally Burdon (current president of ILAB), Heather O'Donnell (Honey & Wax Booksellers, USA), Sunday Steinkirchner (B&B Rare Books, USA), Lisa Baskin (Cumberland Rare Books, USA) Brian Cassidy of Type Punch Matrix, USA, Joan Winterkorn and in 2023, Amanda Hall (Amanda Hall Rare Books). The seminar provides an  unparalleled opportunity to meet and network with fellow booksellers, librarians and collectors from all areas of the trade.

 
 

2026 Schedule

 
 

Day One - Sunday 6 September

 
 

15:30-16:00 | Registration
16:00-17:00 | Opening Remarks / Introductions
17:00-17:10 | How to Handle Books - Simon Beattie
17:10-17:30 | The Arc of Bookselling - Adam Douglas and Sophie Schneideman
17:30-18:30 | Keynote Speaker - Ian Marr
18:30-20:00 | Welcome Drinks

 
 

 
 

Day Two - Monday 7 September

 
 

08:45-9:00 | Morning Briefing
09:00-10:15 | The Business of Bookselling - Sophie Schneideman
10:15-11:15 | Buying Books Part 1 - Stephen Foster and James Hallgate
11:15-11:30 | Break
11:30-12:30 | Buying Books Part II - Stephen Foster and James Hallgate
12:30-13:30 | Lunch
13:30-14:30 | How to Catalogue a Book - Simon Beattie and Adam Douglas
14:30-14:45 | Break
14:45-15:45 | How to Catalogue a Book cont. - Simon Beattie and Adam Douglas
15:45-16:00 | Break
16:00-17:00
| Introduction to Binding Styles - Full Faculty
17:00-19:00 | Tour of Thin Ice Press [Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PW] - With Dr. Helen Smith

 
 

 
 

Day Three - Tuesday 8 September

08:20-8:30 | Morning Briefing
08:30-10:00 | Modern Firsts - James Hallgate
10:00-10:15 | Break
10:15-11:| How to Catalogue Ephemera - Siân Wainwright
11:00-12:15 | Provenance & Ownership - Dr. Hazel Tubman
12:15-13:00 | Lunch
13:00-13:45| The Art of the Pitch - Simon Beattie and Adam Douglas
13:45-15:15| Cataloguing Workshop - Full Faculty
15:15-15:30 | Break
15:30-16:30 | Evaluating, Pricing & Selling - Stephen Foster
16:45-18:45 | Visit to York Minster Library (with Sarah Griffin, Rare Books & York Minster Librarian) Plus local bookshop visits to Janette Ray Bookseller & Minster Gates Bookshop

 
 

 
 

Day Four - Wednesday 9 September

08:20-8:30 | Morning Briefing
08:30-10:00 | An Introduction to The Art of the Book - Sophie Schneideman & Dr. Hazel Tubman
10:00-10:15 | Break
10:15-11:15 | Running an Open Shop - James Hallgate and Joshua Boyd Green
11:15-11:30 | How to Behave at a Book Fair - Siân Wainwright
11:30-12:15 | Q&A Session
12:15-13:00 | Lunch & Group Photos
13:00-14:30 | Avoiding Fakes & Forgeries - Adam Douglas
14:30-14:45 | Break
14:45-15:45 | Marketing & E-Commerce for Booksellers - Rachel Chanter and Rob Sandall
15:45-16:00 | Break
16:00-17:30 | Go Your Own Way - A Q&A Panel with Josh Boyd-Green [Green Ink Booksellers], Glen Miller [Deep Neutral Books], Rebekah Cron [Fold the Corner] and Fiona Philip [Quair Books]
18:30-21:00 | Celebration Dinner at Kapadokya [24 George Hudson Street, York, YO1 6LP]

 
 

 
 

Day Five - Thursday 10 September

08:20-8:30 | Morning Briefing
08:30-10:15 | Libraries are your Friends - Lucy Evans & Simon Beattie
10:15-10:30 | Break
10:30-11:30 | Putting it in the Post - Dr Hazel Tubman
11:30-12:15 | Open Forum - Full Faculty
12:15-12:45 | Graduation & Closing Remarks
12:45-13:30 | Students to have lunch independently and drop off anything at their accommodation
14:30 | Bus to York Book Fair [Departs from Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PW, near The Black Swan]
14:45 | Welcome Remarks from ABA President, Bernard Shapero
18:00-18:30 | Return Bus back to York City Centre and the end of YABS 2026.