A look into Firsts Hong Kong: A deep dive into rare books, maps, and paper-based objects

Many might associate December with the festive holiday, 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.

While it can be challenging to impose what Grant calls “stringent conditions” on an item to determine its value, she shared that pricing can be influenced by numerous factors, such as the number of copies produced, the presence of typos, the condition of the object, and when and where it was created.

“If you’re looking at it financially, what adds value to something is if there isn’t an existing copy in a national library or institution. If it’s one of a kind, that adds value because it means that it’s truly unique,” she explained. 

“The perfect combination of art and science”

Historically, maps allowed us to chart and navigate the environments around us and locate ourselves within them. Today, we rely on them to book an Uber or use Google Maps to find a restaurant. But why even consider purchasing them?

Deeming antique maps are the “perfect combination of art and science”. Crouch says their beauty lies in how they reflect humanity’s profound attempt to chart the world around us. “There’s something viscerally appealing about organising our thoughts geographically.”

“Since the beginning of consciousness, human beings have been aware of the movements of the planetary bodies and recorded them. We love the fact that night follows day (and) like watching the cycles of the seasons. We are cartographically aware, so it appeals to something deep.” 

And the proof is in the pudding. Among the highlights sold at the Fair is a collection of six stone stele rubbings comprising China’s earliest geographically accurate map and the oldest stone-engraved celestial map of the Chinese heavens. Daniel Crouch Rare Books offered the latter and carried an asking price of £250,000. 

In addition to antique maps, Crouch observed that collecting rare maps and books has gained popularity, particularly among individuals who have prospered in the knowledge economy.

“People working in the dot com boom and tech businesses means that they value knowledge, specifically scientific knowledge, and therefore people, for the lack of a better word, fetishise the tools of that trade. It’s safe to say that (due to their physicality) cartography and maps certainly have enjoyed a renaissance, and scientific books too.” 

On growing your collection

Keen to start collecting rare books and maps? Grant and Crouch have plenty of advice for newcomers. For Grant — who collects rare books and objects related to Italy and Rome — it’s all about considering what piques your curiosity and developing relationships with booksellers. 

Many dealers will then share objects related to your interest, with Grant adding, “Dealers are so friendly. They want to tell you about everything and are fountains of knowledge. So to become a collector, use the information they want to give.” 

Crouch also has several key tenets: “Befriend dealers and never compromise on quality. Don’t buy things because they’re cheap. If they’re cheap, there’s usually a reason why. (Be sure to) buy the original colour and very high quality, and you’ll regret it if you don’t.”