On Saturday, November 8th, the sixth annual Houston Book Fair at the Museum of Printing History will delight visitors with a wide range of items from moderately priced used books to rare and collectible volumes. The fair will provide a great variety of material for gift giving or personal enjoyment.
Visitors will be treated to a special guest lecture at this year's Book Fair. At 2 pm, Houston author Marks Hinton will entertain attendees with a discussion of his recent book, Historic Houston Streets: The Stories Behind the Names. Hinton spent six years researching this 235-page book. It explains some of the oddest reasons for street names, as well as the historical importance of the people behind the names. Copies of the book will be for sale at the event, available for signing by the author.
The Houston Book Fair has been growing in size and popularity since its debut in 2003. This year's line-up includes 20 U.S. dealers from across the country. Subjects include children's books, Texana, mysteries, fine art and illustrated editions, historical documents, out-of-print, first editions, comics, and more. The Museum Gift Shop, the Houston Book Arts Group, Printers Guild, and other local artists will be selling hand-made books and related crafts.
The working studios will also be open for a variety of demonstrations led by artists. From papermaking to letterpress printing, to bookbinding and lithography, visitors will be introduced to the Museum's workshop offerings. During the Book Fair the Museum's permanent collection will also be open for viewing. The collection includes a replica of Gutenberg's press and the original, early 19th century press that belonged to Samuel Bangs, one of the first printers in Texas. Permanent exhibits document history from the origins of printing on Mesopotamian clay tablets circa 3000 B.C. through pre-Gutenberg manuscript production, Gutenberg's invention of moveable type, printing of the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment and beyond. Rotating exhibitions on view during the Book Fair include Branched and Rooted: the Evolution of a Series by Orna Feinstein, Gelam Nguzu Kazi-Dugong My Son, and AIGA's 50 Books 50 Covers.
The Museum is located at 1324 W. Clay, one block west of Montrose and a half mile south of Allen Parkway. The Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday; 10am-5pm. Admission is free. For more information, phone 713-522-4652 or visit the website, www.printingmuseum.org.
The Museum of Printing History is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
