Many might associate December with the festive period, but in Hong Kong, it was the season of rare paper-based objects.

Run by the Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA), Firsts Hong Kong showcased a curated selection of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, prints, and works on paper. The fair, which took place at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum from December 6 to 8, 2024, included 28 exhibitors, including notable dealers such as London-based Shapero Rare, Lok Man Rare Books from Hong Kong, and Antiquariaat Forum from the Netherlands.

Today, Riley Grant, fair manager and ABA Secretary, and exhibitor Daniel Crouch, the eponymous founder of London-based Daniel Crouch Rare Books, will discuss the inaugural edition of Firsts in Hong Kong, including how to appreciate rare books and maps and advice for building your collection.

RETURNING TO HONG KONG

While 2024 marked the first edition of the fair in Hong Kong, Firsts is a revival of the former China in Print Fair. Boasting a similar selection of wares, China in Print ran until 2019 and stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Grant, China in Print's previous run in Hong Kong meant the city had an existing interest in rare books and an established audience. "This is why we kept the same location, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, and (run it at the) same time of the year. While Firsts is a different event with a different name, there's benefits and continuity (to running it in Hong Kong)," Grant explained.

Rare paper-based objects are the fair's speciality. The fair features objects at a range of price points. Some highlights on display included the Government of Hong Kong's 1951 Hong Kong Annual Report, valued at £430 ($725), and a first edition of enormous Chinese prints celebrating the Qianlong Emperor's conquests in Sichuan, valued at £398,000.