HIDDEN IN THE SHELVES

Presents

HIDDEN IN THE SHELVES

A London Bookseller's Discovery of the Most Important Frankenstein Association Copy

At 23, London bookseller Sammy Jay stumbled upon a rare find in his grandfather’s book collection – a scarce first edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. What he found when he opened the book was even more remarkable. It was inscribed “To Lord Byron, from the author.”

Join Sammy Jay for a conversation about the importance of this amazing discovery and how this small volume, tucked away for decades on a bookshelf, propelled his own future as a rare bookseller at in London.

Tickets to this talk are offered FREE with admission to .

Jay is the curator of Peter Harrington’s modern literature department and is particularly interested in poetry. His catalogues have included: Poetry; World Literature; In Other Worlds: Fantasy, Science-Fiction, and Beyond; and Literature in Love. He also curated an exhibition of Bloomsbury rare books and manuscripts for Kim Jones’s haute couture debut for FENDI at Paris Fashion Week, January 2021

RARE BOOKS LA UNION STATION CELEBRATES FRANKENSTEIN

"It’s alive, IT’S ALIVE…!” Rare Books LA returns to Los Angeles Union Station on October 4-5, 2025 with a monstrous selection of antiquarian books, maps, fine prints, book arts, and more. This year’s fair is celebrating the release of Rare Books LA friend and patron Guillermo Del Toro’s new film Frankenstein on Netflix this November.

With support from AbeBooks, more than 50 exhibitors from London, New York, and everywhere in between will fill the Ticket Concourse at LA Union Station with an electrifying array of first editions and other historical material. Attendees are encouraged to join our partner Metro and hop onboard Metrolink, Metro Rail, or Amtrak for this transit-friendly book fair.

Rare Books LA Union Station will also feature a series of free talks on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and other bookish subjects. Plans are also in the works for a special fundraising event with Guillermo Del Toro set for Friday, October 3, in partnership with Netflix. This event will benefit the long-term recovery and rebuilding of the LA Public Library’s Palisades Branch, which was destroyed in the January fires. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

“We are thrilled to bring the rare book community together to celebrate the legacy of Mary Shelley and the artistry of Guillermo Del Toro for such a worthy cause,” said Rare Books LA Director of Operations Jodi Tolan.

Rare Books LA Union Station takes place at 800 N. Alameda Street and is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, October 4, and from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, October 5.

Please visit our website for a list of exhibitors.

For tickets and more information about the book fair, please click here.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Los Angeles Union Station, 800 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, United States