Winner of the 2026 ABA National Book Collecting Prize: Eshan Kapoor

We are delighted to announce that the 2026 ABA National Book Collecting Prize has been awarded to Eshan Kapoor for his collection India: A Category Unto Itself – Five Centuries of Encounter, Empire and Identity.

In what proved to be a bumper year for entries, with 23 submissions, this year’s decision was particularly difficult, with the panel having to reconvene for a second time to make their final adjudication – a first for the competition! Eshan’s collection won through, however, and the judges were all highly impressed by his particular focus on the significant cultural and intellectual heritage of India.

Highly personal and thoughtfully constructed, Eshan's collections demonstrates an understanding of books not only as printed texts, but as historical, personal objects. Combined with a deep knowledge and understanding of history, the panel were impressed by its scope and depth. Eshan’s increasing focus upon the independence movement particularly resonated, with a well-defined trajectory for the collection. Inspired to begin collecting by a wish to celebrate India as far more than a mere travel destination, and to address and correct existing bias, the panel felt that Eshan was achieving this to great effect. Clearly a true book hunter, his passion and enthusiasm shone through, and his outreach efforts on social media, and willingness to share his collection with the wider world, were impressive. As Eshan noted in his original entry, "India is vast enough to sustain a lifetime of looking" – and we feel confident that he will continue to grow the collection and enjoy many years of happy book hunting!

The prize this year consists of £500 to spend with an ABA dealer and with his collection exhibited at Firsts London Book Fair at the Saatchi Gallery next May (20th-23rd, 2027). Eshan also receives complimentary Friends of the ABA membership for a year, together with a year’s online subscription to The Book Collector Magazine. All being well, we plan to make a formal presentation at the Chelsea Book Fair.

The judges wish to give an Honourable mention to Ry Gifford for her collection Sacred Virgin, Holy Whore: Tracing the Divine Feminine through Word, Image, Flesh & Rite. An extensive collection, in parts addressing some complex themes, the panel all agreed that it was highly impressive.

Our thanks and congratulations go to the other entrants who made it through to the final presentations: Shyam Chapaneri for his collection The Basia and Love Poems of Johannes Secundus; Claudia Nandwani for her collection Liminal Spaces and Thin Veils: When Celtic mythology met literary fiction and the use of Celticism in the gothic and mythology genres; and Drew Rosen for his collection Insights from the illustrator’s Library. All five gave excellent presentations, and had clearly taken great time and care in putting them together, which we all very much enjoyed and appreciated.