ALMOST one million pounds worth of books were sold in two days at York Book Fair last weekend, it has emerged.
Tony Fothergill, of Ken Spelman Books in Micklegate, said the rare, antiquarian and out-of-print book fair - held in the Knavesmire Suite at York Racecourse - was now the largest such event in Europe, and it brought in the world’s leading collectors from Japan, America and Europe.
"There were 225 dealers, from the UK and abroad, and about 3,000 visitors , again worldwide," he said.
"Some of the world’s top collectors, from America, Japan and Europe, spent three days based in the city.
"In four years, we have nearly doubled the turnover, and it is now rapidly becoming one of the top events in the world book event calendar."
The fair had modest beginnings with just 20 exhibitors at the White Swan Inn in York in 1974.
Books sold at last weekend's fair were about all conceivable subjects, with prices ranging from a few pounds to tens of thousands of pounds. Exhibitors came from America, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and Hong Kong.
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