Johnson Rare Books & Archives

07/09/2026

RARE BOOKS LA UNION STATION CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

Rare Books LA returns to Los Angeles Union Station on October 3-4, 2026, with a stunning selection of antiquarian books, maps, fine prints, book arts, and more you can sink your teeth into. This year’s fair is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Anne Rice’s iconic novel Interview with the Vampire. A special 50th anniversary edition of the book published by Alfred A. Knopf will be available at the book fair bundled with a fundraiser ticket benefiting the Library Foundation of LA

With support from AbeBooks more than 50 exhibitors from London to Los Angeles and everywhere in between will fill the historic Ticket Concourse Los Angeles Union Station with an array of first editions and other historical material. Attendees are encouraged to join our partner Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and hop onboard Metrolink, Metro Rail, or Amtrak for this transit-friendly book fair.

Special exhibits, talks, and even a blood drive are among the highlights on this year’s book fair. Please visit rarebooksla.com for a list of exhibitors and a schedule of speakers and other events.

Also new for 2026, the book fair will open an hour earlier on Sunday!

Rare Books LA Union Station takes place at 800 N. Alameda Street and is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, October 3, and from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, October 4.

Anne Rice Official Instagram

05/02/2026

His more than 100-year-old Chesterfield coat is currently up for sale at the New York Antiquarian Book Fair for $25,000. How did it get there?

04/13/2026

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Overcoat featured in Women’s Wear Daily

“Fitzgerald was the ‘influencer’ of his time and came to define the Jazz Age”

The coat will be offered for sale at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, April 30 to May 3 at the Park Avenue Armory

04/06/2026

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S OVERCOAT

A 1920s Brooks Brothers overcoat owned by novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) who penned such literary classics as The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender Is the Night. The Chesterfield model Brooks’ Brothers gray wool coat is trimmed on the collar with velvet and lined in black satin.

Fitzgerald and share a strong historical connection. The author is credited with popularizing “Ivy Style” and was known to wear Brooks Brothers polo collar shirts, today called Oxford shirts, as part of his daily retinue. When Fitzgerald dropped out of Princeton and enlisted in the Army in 1918, his dress uniform was tailored by Brooks Brothers.

In This Side of Paradise (1920), the main character, Amory Blaine, personified the new money culture – at one point wearing an overbearing combination consisting of a purple tie, purple pocket square, and purple socks, only to be told, “You must go to Brooks’ and get some really nice suits.”

In recognition of the strong connection between the author and clothier, Brooks Brothers created a “Great Gatsby” collection in 2013 based on the costumes in Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation of the novel. Many of the film’s costumes were inspired by 1920s images or products in the company’s archives, and Brooks Brothers manufactured more than 500 outfits for the film.

The overcoat was purchased in a 1994 Christie’s New York auction and has been held in a private collection ever since. It will be offered for sale by and in Booth A4 at the April 30 - May 3, 2026 at the Park Avenue Armory

Special thanks to .bar for allowing us to showcase the coat in a proper setting.

01/05/2026

RARE BOOKS PASADENA: February 21-22, 2026

Rare Books LA returns to Pasadena and invites booksellers and bibliophiles from around the world to come together and share their love of antiquarian books, fine prints, maps, ephemera, and more!

With support from AbeBooks, more than 70 exhibitors from London, Paris, Vienna, Melbourne, New York, and throughout the United States and Canada will fill the historic Raymond Theatre and a second location at the neighboring Courtyard by Marriott ballroom with a dazzling array of rare books and other historical material.

The new book fair location in Old Pasadena is bustling with cafés and restaurants as well as ample parking. Attendees can also hop onboard Metro light rail for this transit-friendly book fair, located just a half block from the Memorial Park stop on the A Line.

The Raymond Theatre, originally named the Crown Theatre, was built in 1921 and became a prominent entertainment venue known for its elegant design and grand architecture. In the late 1970s, it gained fame as Perkins Palace, hosting rock concerts featuring notable acts like Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, Devo, Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, Guns N’ Roses, and Black Flag.

For more information and tickets, visit www.RareBooksLA.com (link in profile)

12/23/2025

Visiting with Lynne and James in Tucson 🌵

03/28/2025

01/14/2025

The Rare Books LA family was saddened to see that the fair in Pasadena has been cancelled. As a Los Angeles-based company with many friends and colleagues displaced by the recent wildfires, we understand the impact of the disaster and the long road of recovery that lies ahead.

We hope those who were planning to travel to California will support the rare book community by attending Rare Books San Francisco, February 1-2, 2025

The ABAA announced that all tickets purchased through Eventbrite for its fair will be refunded to the original payment method. We will honor all tickets, electronic and printed, from the canceled show in Pasadena even if you have received your money back.

Many of the booksellers scheduled to exhibit in Pasadena were also planning to participate in Rare Books San Francisco. We are working to create even more space to accommodate additional exhibitors. See the exhibitor list at www.rarebooksla.com (link in profile) and check back at the end of the week for updates.

Our thoughts remain with the victims of these fires, the communities affected, and the first responders.