53rd Michigan Antiquarian Book & Paper Show

This massive hunt for hidden treasure is happening again on Sunday, April 3, at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. From 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. over 70 dealers from across the country will be offering for sale an incredible number of items in nearly every category.

At the show you will find first editions, unusual and out-of-print books, rare and miniature books, postcards, maps, advertising items, photos, old sports material, autographs, military items, ephemera and more.

It’s a mind-boggling experience, as Bill Triola of Lansing said. “Like walking through the Library of Congress ...” Unlike the Library of Congress, you have the opportunity (for anywhere from 50 cents to $5,000) to take a piece of that history home with you.

This stroll through history, for young and old alike, has some items dating back just a few years and some centuries. It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone from beginning collectors to die-hard history buffs.

Whether you’re seeking a book from childhood or a favorite poet, a historical map or a Civil War newspaper, a 1950’s auto brochure or a classic movie poster – this is definitely the place to go.

Comments from attendees, some traveling hundreds of miles, include “Love coming to this show!” and it’s a “semi-annual ‘religious’ pilgrimage”.

Additional features include plenty of seating and live music, featuring Dan Kuczek on acoustic guitar. The Lansing Center supplies concessions, making it easy to spend all day there.

Admission is $4.50 per person; kids 13 and under get in for free.

Dealer Profile

By Bill Castanier

Wally Jung is a deltiologist – an expert in postcards – and he will once again be bringing these skills to the Michigan Antiquarian Book and Paper Show.

The Lansing resident has been collecting postcards since his mother threw away his baseball cards in the 1950’s.

Known as “The Postcard Man”, Jung said he became a dealer by accident after attending one of the first antiquarian book and paper shows, when it was still being held at the Lansing Civic Center, over 25 years ago.

Jung currently has an inventory of about 110,000 postcards. He will be bringing his best and most interesting cards to the show.

Recent acquisitions include several thousand postcards depicting Michigan Main Streets, Santa Claus, depots and lighthouses.

He said that postcards, like any other collectibles, have their ups and down in the marketplace, with certain categories waning while others flourish.

“Some collect for the scenes, some for the postmarks, others for the cultural history depicted in the messages… Real photo postcards are still in high demand.”

Jung said that real photo postcards, ones created by a photographic process rather than printing, are highly sought after because they were produced in much smaller quantities.

He noted that postcards depicting roadside Americana and highways such as the West Michigan Pike, Route 66 and Route 30 are also popular.

Postcards were first used in this country in 1873, but the manufacture and sale was restricted to the postal service. The first souvenir postcard was for Chicago’s 1893 Columbian Exposition.

By 1898 postcards were being produced commercially, but it took nearly another 10 years before messages could be written on the reverse side.

By 1908, more than 677 million postcards were being mailed each year.

Grand Rapids librarian and author M. Christine Byron has used Jung’s resources to illustrate three books she has written on Northern Michigan tourist areas.

Jung personally collects postcards showing Michigan Main Streets and those from Benton Harbor’s House of David religious group and commune of the early 1900’s.

He recently sold a rare postcard depicting Ernest Hemingway’s “Windemere” at Walloon Lake. On the reverse side was a photo of three Hemingway children.

Postcards at the show will vary in price from 25 cents for unsorted cards to several hundred dollars for exceedingly rare cards.

Frequently asked questions

How can you tell if it’s a first edition? It varies from book to book and publisher to publisher. It becomes complex. That’s part of the challenge. Sometimes there are minor typographical changes that are caught and corrected. The serious collector doesn’t want the fixed version, he or she wants the original. There are price guides that people use to determine the value.

What is ephemera? Ephemera is a term used to embrace a wide range of minor, everyday documents, most intended for one-time or short-term use, including trade cards, broadsides, posters, car brochures, tickets, bookmarks, photographs – and the list goes on. 

What? This show is one of the biggest book and paper shows in the country and is the largest in the Midwest.

What books will you find? The “book” part includes antiquarian, rare, collectible and out-of-print volumes, presented by the best authorities in their fields.

. Children’s and nostalgia . Literary and modern first editions . Fine bindings, private press . Michigan History and Americana . Color plate and illustrated books . Science and technology . Art and music . Natural history, hunting and fishing . Civil War and military history . Mystery and true crime . Science fiction, fantasy and horror . Sports . Vintage paperbacks .

What paper will you find? The “paper” part includes exceptional paper dealers with specialties in diverse categories.

. Postcards, trade cards . Prints and maps . Photographs and stereoviews. Paper dolls, valentines . Vintage advertising, labels, letterheads . Historic documents, autographs . Broadsides, newspapers and stock certificates . Travel, war and movie posters . Calendars and catalogs . Ephemera and pamphlets . Magazines and pulps . Automobile brochures . Sports programs and tickets . Railroad timetables .

There is no “early bird special.” Give yourself plenty of time. For more info, call 332-0112.

First-time exhibitors are marked with a &. Please take the time to fill out our customer comment cards which can be found in the concession area.

Lost & Found. Please turn in or report any items to the Information Booth. After the show, call (517) 332-0123.

Information Booth 307 East Grand River, East Lansing, MI 48823. (517) 332-0123. mmabda@curiousbooks.com www.curiousbooks.com MMABDA Reference Materials, Supplies ... Across from entrance ...

Acorn Books 29844 Wagner, Warren, MI 48093. (586) 578-0900. acornbooksinmi@aol.com www.AcornBooksinMI.com Jim Deak GS, Child, MI, Lit ... 24 ...

Ageless Books 654 Earliglow Lane, Haslett, MI 48840. (517) 339-0520. erseir@gmail.com Janet O’Brien Child/Juv, MI, Cook, Ephem ... 28 ...

Annie Books P.O. Box 413 Haslett MI 48840 (517) 339-9199 truckdog5@sbcglobal.net Annie Everett GS, Cook, Child, MI, Ephem ... 13 ...

Archives Book Shop 519 W. Grand River Ave. East Lansing MI 48823 (517) 332-8444 archivbk@concentric.net Listing on www.abebooks.com Ray Walsh GS, MI, Fine Bind, Photos, Trade Cards, Ephem ... 38 ...

Bessenberg Bindery 7300 W. Joy Rd. Dexter MI 48130 (734) 996-9696 bessenberg@tshore.com www.bessenberg.com Jon Buller, mgr Bookbinding, Repair, Boxes, One-Of-A-Kind Bindings, Leather Binding ... 30 ...

Birchwood Books 4672 Angyle Drive Troy MI 48085 (248) 930-8110 phil@BirchwoodBooks.com www.birchwoodbooks.com Phil & Maureen Rosette Child/Juv, MI, Fic, Nancy Drew, Edgar Rice Burroughs ... 26 ...

Bookleggers Used Books (ABAA) 2907 N. Broadway Chicago IL 60657 (773) 404-8780 books@bookleggers.com www.bookleggers.com Lawrence VanDeCarr GS, Lit, Mys, SF, Rare ... 36 ...

Books of the Ages 4764 Silverwood Dr. Batavia OH 45103 (513) 732-3456 booksoftheages@roadrunner.com Gary Overmann Tasha Tudor, Series, Pop Ups, Award Winners ... 1 ...

Bookworks 315 W. Gorham Madison WI 53703 (608) 255-4848 bookworks@tds.net Peter Dast GS, Hist, Lit/Fic ... 55 ... &

Boulevard Postcards 534 Glendale Circle Ann Arbor MI 48103-4177 (734) 417-2608 dougaikenhead@gmail.com Doug Aikenhead Specializing in Real Photo PC ... 54 ...

Branchwater Books & Ephemera 11196 W. Clear Lake Branch MI 49402 (231) 898-2286 rdj@carrinter.net Roger D. Jones GS, Sci/Mech, Milit, Nat, Hunt, Fish ... 11 ...

Robert S. Brooks, Bookseller P.O. Box 145 Bristol WI 53104-9998 (847) 867-7273 bob@rareliterature.com Robert S. Brooks GS, MI ... 47 ...

Buckingham Books 8058 Stone Bridge Rd. Greencastle PA 17225-9786 (717) 597-5657 sales@buckinghambooks.com buckinghambooks.com Lew Buckingham Western Amer, Mys/Det Fic, Espionage, Trans, Ephem ... 23 ...

Paul Burk - Antiques & Books 734 N. Stewart Freemont MI 49412 (231) 924-3494 pamadastedi@sbcglobal.net Paul Burk GS, Childrens, PC ... 52 ...

Cards from Archives 519 W. Grand River Ave. East Lansing MI 48823 (517) 332-8444 archivbk@concentric.net Listing on www.abebooks.com Ray Walsh Real Photo, PC, Stereoviews ... 37 ...

Castbooks 2820 Page Ave. Ann Arbor MI 48104 (517) 896-3344 bc@comcast.net www.castbooks.com Ben Castanier MI, Milit, Lit/Fic, Art, Arch, Sgnd 1sts ... 50 ...

Cattermole 20th Century Childrens Books 9880 Fairmount Rd. Newbury OH 44065 (440) 338-3253 Fax (440) 338-1675 books@cattermole.com Jane/Bill McCullam Child from 1933 to present ... 65 ... &

Collectors Choice 24153 N. Dixie Hwy. Perrysburg OH 43551 (419) 872-2758 rleuton@yahoo.com Ronald & Ruth Euton GS, Juv, Milit, Cook, Fic, Ephem ... 67 ...

Curious Book Shop 307 E. Grand River Ave. East Lansing MI 48823 (517) 332-0112 cbsmail@curiousbooks.com www.curiousbooks.com Ray Walsh; Mark Wojcik, mgr. GS, MI, SF, Illus, Child, Pulps, Mags, Comics ... 14 ...

Curious Sports & Entertainment 307 E. Grand River Ave. East Lansing MI 48823 (517) 332-0112 cbsmail@curiousbooks.com Ray Walsh; Mark Wojcik, mgr Movie Posters, Lobby Cards, Stills ... 19 ...

James C. Dast, Bookseller 217 Shepard Terrace Madison WI 53705-3615 (608) 238-3065 James C. Dast Science, Mechanics ... 56 ...

Daves Used Cards 9114 Warner Rd. Haslett MI 48840-0584 (517) 927-1665 postcards2@aol.com David Jaeger Maps, Misc Paper, PC ... 9 ...

Wilfrid M. de Freitas - Bookseller P.O. Box 883, Stock Exchange Tower Montreal, Qc CAN H4Z 1K2 (514) 935-9581 wilfrid@defreitasbooks.com www.defreitasbooks.com Wilfrid M. de Freitas Lit/Fic, Art & Arch, Travel & Exploration ... 25 ...

Doyles Books 1704 S. Noble Ave. Springfield IL 62704 (217) 726-8569 mbrophy@doylesbooks.com Michael Brophy GS, Fic, Lit, Nat, Hunt, Fish ... 42 ...

Early Aeronautica P.O. Box 2003 Midland MI 48641-2003 (989) 835-3908 kullgrent@charter.net Thomas Kullgren Milit, Trans, Aviation, Ephem, PC ... 8 ...

Elves Antiques 47 Union SE Grand Rapids MI 49503 (616) 308-1299 elvesantiques@aol.com David Eppelheimer GS, Child, Lit/Fic, Silk Fringed Cards, 19th & 20th Cent Valentines, Other Holidays ... 12 ... &

A. England, Books & Ephemera Hillsdale Community Books 100 S. West Street Hillsdale MI 49242 (517) 398-6030 office@hillsdalebooks.com Aimee England GS, Paper, Ephem ... 15 ...

Larry Falater P.O. Box 81 Allen MI 49227 (888) FALATER Lawrence Falater MI, Paper Money, Stocks & Bonds, PC ... 58 ...

The Fine Books Company (ABAA) 781 E. Snell Road Rochester MI 48306-2144 (248) 651-8799 finebooks@mich.com finebooks.home.comcast.net David & Nancy Aronovitz GS, Mys/Det, SF, 1sts ... 27 ...

Fireproof Books 13958 Oakland Place Minnetonka MN 55305 (612) 817-8993 fireproof@black-hole.com Mark S. Larson 1sts, Lit, Fic ... 51 ...

First Folio 1206 Brentwood Paris TN 38242-3809 (731) 644-9940 firstfolio@charter.net www.first-folio.com Dennis Melhouse GS, Fine Bind, Illust, Rare Bks ... 35 ...

Frogtown Books Inc. 1021 Glenn Rd. Toledo OH 43607 (419) 531-8101 pete@frogtownbooks.com www.frogtownbooks.com Pete Baughman Child, Lit, Fic, photos, Autographs ... 66 ...

Sam Gatteno Books 542 Lakeland Grosse Pointe MI 48230 (313) 885-2254 sgatteno@sbcglobal.net Sam Gatteno GS ... 41 ...

Thatcher C. Goetz, Antiquarian Books 6615 Greenwood Rd. Petosky MI 49770 (231) 439-9416 Thatcher C. Goetz MI, Great Lakes, Hist ... 49 ...

John M. Gram 206 Military Street Port Huron MI 48060 (810) 334-2824 jgram@advnet.net John M. Gram GS, MI, Milit, Hist, PC ... 46 ...

The HER and HIStory Collection 18 Gunia Ave. Peru IL 61354 (815) 220-1305 jhb@theherandhistorycollection.com theherandhistorycollection.com James Bennett Child, Milit, Hist, Hunt, Fish, Ephem, Trade Cards ... 6 ...

Hooked On History 350 W. Kensington Road, Suite #108 Mt. Prospect IL 60056-1141 (847) 255-9854 histor1@attglobal.net www.hookedonhistory.com Bruce R. Herrick Milit, Hist ... 22 ...

Jims Books 280 E. Riley Rd. Owosso MI 48867 (989) 723-5586 jimvp41@hotmail.com Jim VanPelt GS, MI, Hunt, Paper, Ephem, PC ... 4 ...

Kaleidoscope Books & Collectibles 200 N. Fourth Ave. Ann Arbor MI 48104 (734) 995-9887 kaleidoscope_books@yahoo.com Jeffrey Pickell GS, Child/Juv, Rock Memorabilia, Pop Culture, Ephem, PC ... 60 ...

Carol Anne Kouyoumdjian Miniature Books P.O. Box 111 Columbia City IN 46725-0111 (260) 503-9567 minibks@gmail.com Carol A. Kouyoumdjian GS, Miniature Bks, Child, Cook, Trade Cards ... 2 ...

Lennies Kitchen Table 216 W. Second North Laingsburg MI 48848 (517) 651-5481 Lennieskitchen@aol.com Eileen Moore GS, Unusual Paper & Ephemera ... 10 ...

Leona Lentz P.O. Box 506 Delton MI 49046 (269) 623-2960 drztnel@hotmail.com Leona Lentz Postcards, Philatelic Covers ... 68 ...

Little Button Rose & Bruces Bookshelf 614 Bower St. Elkhart IN 46514-2655 (616) 481-0671 littlebuttonrose@comcast.net Mary & Bruce Ritsema GS, Child, Lit, Alcott, Hemingway, US Vint Postage Stamps ... 39 ...

M.L.s Antiques P.O. Box 232 West Branch MI 48661 (989) 343-0347 mllock151@hughes.net www.upnorthmi.com M. L. Lockhart GS, MI, Lit/Fic, Paper ... 32 ...

Magina Books 2311 Fort St. Lincoln Park MI 48146-2420 (313) 928-7177 maginabks@att.net www.abebooks.com/home/ maginabk Steve Magina GS, Milit, Cook, Tran ... 53 ...

McCormick Books 21978 Greentree Novi MI 48375 (248) 231-7430 sales@mccormickbooks.com www.mccormickbooks.com Janet Blackhawk GS, MI/Great Lakes, Child ... 43 ...

Gregory S. McDonald Books 8168 Grand River Ave. Saranac MI 48881 (616) 862-7155 Gregory S. McDonald Lit/Fic, Paper, PC ... 64 ...

Mill-Cliff Books 65 Prospect Ave. Dayton OH 45415-2233 (937) 898-6667 millcliff@att.net Barbara A. Clifford GS, Child, Hist, Art, Ephem, Trade Cards, PC ... 62 ...

Modern Age Books East Lansing MI 48826 mabooks@comcast.net ... 71 ...

Mossback Books 21978 Greentree Novi MI 48375 (313) 300-8626 mossbakbk@yahoo.com Listing on www.abebooks.com Evan C. Blackhawk GS, Child, MI, Great Lakes ... 44 ...

Northern Heritage Antiques 61 Smith Lane Marquette MI 49855 (906) 250-9002 bookmarce@gmail.com Marcie J. DePlonty GS, MI, Photos, Victoriana, Sht Mus, Ephem, Trade Cards, PC ... 21 ...

Out-of-the-Way Books 4500 North Kelso North Adams MI 49262 (517) 287-9018 middleway@frontier.com listing on ABE Michael J. Gajda GS, Paper, Ephem, PC ... 18 ...

Page Books 117 Danville Pike Hillsboro OH 45133 (937) 840-0991 pagebooks@cinci.rr.com www.pagebooks.net Maggie Page Child, Juv, Fine Illustrations ... 61 ...

Paper Americana 6280 W. Polk Rd. Alma MI 48801 (989) 463-5896 johnkemler@gmail.com www.paperamericana.net John Kemler Trade Cards, Paper, Ephem, PC ... 29 ...

Plain Tales Books P.O. Box 1691 Arlington Hgts IL 60006 (847) 253-1472 plaintales@comcast.net www.plaintalesbooks.com Tom Zimmerman GS, Cook, Typography, Printing ... 45 ...

Postcard Wally 417 Meade Dr. Lansing MI 48917-9676 (517) 230-0734 postcardwally@comcast.net midwestpostcards.net Wally Jung PC ... 31 ...

Roadrunners Bookshelf 689 25th St. Otsego MI 49078 (269) 673-8058 roadrunr@wildblue.net Carroll & Charlotte Busk GS, Child/Juv, Lit, Art, Arch ... 48 ...

Shaws Books 14932 Kercheval Grosse Pointe Park MI 48230 (313) 824-0816 shawsbooks@comcast.net www.shawsbooks.net Henry Zuchowski MI, Trans, Fine Bind, Ephem ... 17 ...

Sheldon Fine Books 302 W. Green St. Hastings MI 49058 (269) 948-1990 jesheldon@hotmail.com Julie Moore GS, Child, MI, Nat, Hunt, Fish, Cook ... 5 ...

Fred Tanner 2958 Wedgewood Drive Ft. Gratiot MI 48059 (810) 385-6191 fwwtanner@gmail.com Fred Tanner Great Lakes, Milit, Hist, Hunt, Fish, Ephem, Paper, PC ... 34 ...

This Old Book 9525 Lexington Ave. Brookfield IL 60513 (708) 997-3837 thisoldbook@comcast.net Matt Meyer GS, Child, Milit ... 16 ...

Triolas Objects As Art 1114 E. Mt. Hope Lansing MI 48910 (517) 449-0246 triolas@aol.com Bill Triola MI, Milit, Child, Trade Cards, Paper, PC ... 57 ...

Volume I Books 98 N. Broad St. Hillsdale MI 49242 (517) 437-2228 books@volume1books.com www.volume1books.com Richard Wunsch GS, Politics: Left & Right, Labor Hist, Photos, Ephem ... 70 ...

Walt & Susans (Old Barn) Antiques 2513 Nelson Rd. Traverse City MI 49686-8557 (231) 223-7386 feiger@pentel.net www.waltsoldbarn.com sfeiger70@gmail.com Walt & Susan Feiger GS, Child, MI/Great Lakes, Nat/Hunt/Fish ... 59 ... &

Brenda & Carl Walters Books P.O. Box 276 Concord MI 49237 (517) 937-3332 Carl & Brenda Walters Ephem, PC ... 33 ...

West Side Book Shop (ABAA) 113 W. Liberty Ann Arbor MI 48104 (734) 995-1891 jplatt@provide.net Jay Platt GS, MI, Travel & Exploration ... 40 ...

David L. White Books N-10311 Shore Drive Au Train MI 49806 (906) 343-6778 whitebks@hotmail.com David L. White GS, MI, Child, James Oliver Curwood ... 3 ...

White Raven Books P.O. Box 980469 Ypsilanti MI 48198-0469 (734) 485-3770 whiteravenbooks@provide.net C. Hedger Breed GS, Scarce, Rare, Obscure Material ... 20 ...

P.B. Wisney - Books & Ephemera Box 5 Rosebush MI 48878 (989) 433-2119 booklady@sensible-net.com www.abebooks.com/home/ bookladysen Pat & Bill Wisney GS, MI, Great Lakes, Ephem ... 7 ...

Yesterdays Books 3868 Turner Rd. Richmond IN 47374 (765) 966-3056 yestrbooks@att.net Bob & Becky Scott GS, Paper, Ephem ... 63 ...

Tips for first-timers

. Make a list of what you have or what you’re looking for.

. You can pick up an exhibitor listing by subject and by booth number at the Information Booth.

. Compare prices, but don’t expect it to be there later. The time to buy a collectible book is when you see it!

. There are price guides, reference books and supplies for sale at the Information Booth.

. Some dealers may negotiate. You’ll have better luck if you’re polite and smile.

. If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, ask a dealer.

Security n Bags must be stapled shut. Please be sure you have the receipt.

.n If you have several packages, the Information Booth can check them for you, consolidate them for you, or both.

. Bringing items for sale into the exhibitor hall is strongly discouraged. It’s better to make an appointment with a dealer outside of the show.

. If you must bring something in, notify the security guard at the entrance and arrangements will be made.

Door prizes n Five door prizes ($20 gift certificates) are awarded throughout the day.

. The gift certificates may be used at the show.

. Enter to win at the Information Booth!

Don't miss the 54th Show! Sunday, Sept. 25