46th edition of the Ephemera Fair

The Ephemera Fair, officially sanctioned by the Ephemera Society of America (ESA) and produced and managed by Sanford L. Smith + Associates, is set to return to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, from March 20-22 for its 46th edition.

The Ephemera Fair will feature over 10,000 unique items, including advertisements, baseball cards, rare maps, playbills, banknotes, sheet music, luggage tags, wood engravings and more, spanning centuries of history and culture. With prices ranging from $10 for entry-level collectors to multi-million-dollar rarities, the fair caters to everyone from casual enthusiasts to seasoned experts.

This year’s edition coincides with ESA’s annual conference, 250 Years: Ephemera Shapes America, tying the fair to the nation’s 250th anniversary and spotlighting how small, fragile printed objects have quietly documented and shaped American life.

Recognized as the country’s largest ephemera show, the fair will host more than 60 exhibitors from across the U.S., including both longtime participants and exciting newcomers.

On July 4, 2026, the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. This landmark anniversary provides an ideal opportunity to explore the pivotal role ephemera has played not only in our nation’s founding, but also throughout the major political events and social movements that have shaped American history. The conference will feature 11 presentations over two days, each examining aspects of this historic milestone.
At the fair, everyday printed materials, originally created to be temporary, are showcased as cultural artifacts. Visitors can browse more than 10,000 pieces of vintage and historic paper, including advertising posters, baseball cards, rare maps, political buttons, playbills, banknotes, sheet music, luggage labels, wood engravings and other printed curiosities spanning centuries. “ESA is the leader in promoting the historical and cultural significance of ephemera,” stated Michael Peich, ESA President. “Our annual conference offers careful study of ephemera, while our Fair is an opportunity to acquire ephemeral items that unlock history’s fascinating stories. Say good-bye to dismal winter and gather bouquets of ephemera at the Fair and Conference!” With 60+ exhibitors from across the country, the event draws seasoned collectors, historians, designers and first-time browsers alike. Prices range from $10 entry-level finds to museum-quality rarities, making it equally accessible for newcomers and serious collectors. “As proud producers of the Ephemera Society of America’s Ephemera Fair – the largest and most important of its kind in the country – we’re excited to celebrate the small, fragile pieces of history that tell some of the biggest stories and the wonderful community that gathers around them,” added Jennifer Stark, CEO of Sanford L. Smith + Associates. A longstanding destination for the ephemera community, the fair has become a New England tradition, part marketplace, part treasure hunt, and part living archive, offering a rare chance to discover the small paper objects that quietly shaped everyday American life.

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Produced by Sanford L. Smith + Associates | www.sanfordsmith.com | (212) 777-5218
ESA Ephemera Fair: https://esafair.com

Schedule
• Friday Preview for ESA Members, Conference Attendees, and Press (Friday, March 20 5:30pm –
7:30pm): Tickets sold at the door to benefit the ESA
• ESA Members Fair Preview (Saturday 9am – 10am): $12
• Single-Day Admission (Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm): $12 Online, $15 at the Door
• Students: Free (with valid ID – at the door only)