any idea where i can locate shops and auctions for antiquarian books?

The best place to begin is with the American Antiquarian Booksellers Association or, even better, the antiquarian booksellers association for your state or region. Most states where I have lived and traveled have such an association with an excellent directory of booksellers arranged alphabetically and by city.

To contact AABA, here is the information you need:

http://www.aaba.org/

Susan Benne

Executive Co-Director

sbenne@abaa.org

Liane Thomas Wade

Executive Co-Director

hq@abaa.org

ABAA HQ

20 West 44th Street

New York, NY 10036

Ph: 212.944.8291

Fax: 212.944.8293

If you were traveling in Florida, for example, you would find an excellent directory of booksellers at

http://www.floridabooksellers.com/

Almost any good used/rare book dealer will have a copy of the directory for their state. They will also give you information on book fairs and auctions. I have found members of state antiquarian booksellers associations to be very helpful, knowledgeable, congenial, and out-going. Sometimes I almost feel guilty because of the time a dealer is willing to spend helping me identify other dealers I might seek in my travels.

You can also find dealers in your local area through

http://abebooks.com/

However, I have had better luck with those dealers who are members of their state aba.

Good luck to you in your search.

Why limit yourself when you have all the info at your fingertips. But if you want to narrow it down why not call a local university or college.

auction places

Check out The Strand in NYC. Awesome place if it is still there.

Exchange and Mart