Rare Books San Francisco hosts a special Book Club Of California talk, “In Conversation With Richard Wagener,” in the Gateway Pavilion at Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture (FMCAC). This talk is free to attend with Rare Books SF admission, register for space in advance. The talk takes place at Rare Books San Francisco in the Gateway Pavilion (Pier 2) on Sunday, February 2, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Printmaker and book artist Richard Wagener talks about his creative process and the wood engravings that he has published under his Mixolydian Editions imprint. He discusses his work on the numerous fine press editions of Arion Press, Peter Koch Printers, Nawakum Press, and others. And Wagener is in conversation with Book Club of California executive director Kevin Kosik about the artwork he created for three Book Club publications: California in Relief, Sierra Nevada Suite, and From California. For more details about Wagener, visit RichardWagener.com/about.

Rare Books San Francisco sets up in the Gateway Pavilion at Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture (FMCAC) on Saturday and Sunday, February 1 and 2, 2025. The literary event brings with it a Regency-era flare in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of revered English novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817).

With support from AbeBooks and KQED, this celebration of antiquarian books, rare maps, fine printing, ephemera, and artists’ books, for the first time, includes a selection of independent writers, artists, and creators curated by San Francisco Zine Fest.

In addition to guided tours of the book fair and a zine-making workshop, leading writers and “Janeites” speak to the life, work, and lasting influence of Jane Austen (1775-1817), author of such classic novels as Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816).

Among the talks and special events is “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf” with Rebecca Romney, a rare book collector and Pawn Stars guest, who discusses her new title, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest To Find The Women Writers Who Shaped A Legend. The $75 ticket for this event includes entry to Rare Books SF, an advance copy of Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, and a special Jane Austen-themed tote bag. A portion of the proceeds from this event benefit The Book Club Of California in San Francisco.

Another free talk, “The Diggers,” led by bookseller, publisher, and artist Ben Kinmont, takes place at Rare Books SF on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Register in advance.

Visit RareBooksLA.com for more information, including a list of exhibitors.