Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association - Book Fair TRAVEL & EXPLORATION 2010

The Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association began - officially - in 1974, although the history can be charted back a further couple of years. The Association was born of a need - originally identified in the West of England - for a regular London shop window for dealers with shops in the provinces. The prime mover was Gerry Mosdell who, from his Barnstaple shop in 1972 advertised for participants in a series of two-day monthly book fairs, to be held in South Kensington at the Hotel Eden. The first fair was arranged for July, and there were nine exhibitors.

Fully computerised since 1988, and with a membership established at over 600, those early days over twenty five years ago seem far away; yet the spirit of the enterprise, co-operation and friendship which emerged amongst those few early fellow- travellers continues to identify today's Association, for - computers, staff, headquarters and committees notwithstanding - today's PBFA is still a co-operative organisation, supported and managed voluntarily by its members.