Dealers, fair organisers and auction houses often hold events that coincide with important anniversaries.
The year 2020 is the 200th anniversary of the births of two major 19th century names: Florence Nightingale and Ludwig van Beethoven.
The year also marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Renaissance master Raphael and the 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens. The latter will be a theme for Firsts, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association fair in June.