Rare books and asthma may be unlikely bedfellows, but this month asthma education is set to benefit when the 35th Australian Antiquarian Book Fair comes to Malvern Town Hall.

For three days only (Oct 24 to 26) the historic town hall will be transformed into an old world library-cum-bookstore as leading Australian and international booksellers share their wares - and knowledge - with members of the public.

Gathered together will be all things collectable - from first editions and fine bindings to vintage comics and cricket fiction. In fact, there are even collectable books about book collecting!

"You can collect almost anything," explained Book Fair coordinator and Melbourne antiquarian bookseller, Kay Craddock.

"Books are absolutely fascinating and you never know when you will stumble upon the next prize find. Book collections can grow in value and book collecting is a great hobby," she said. "Rare books also make an inspired gift and, at the end of the day, they really do furnish a room."

Day tickets to the Australian Antiquarian Book Fair, presented by the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers, are just $10 ($8 concession) or a three day ticket is available for serious book hunters for $17 ($12 concession). Ticket sales will benefit the National Asthma Council Australia.

"This year, the Book Fair is paying tribute to Margaret Woodhouse, a founding member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers who died from an asthma attack in 1990," Kay Craddock explained. "Margaret was a wonderful bookseller and a mainstay of the Association in its early days."

According to National Asthma Council Australia Chief Executive Officer, Kristine Whorlow - who is coincidentally a collector of children's books - asthma deaths have thankfully decreased in Australia since Margaret's death in 1990, but asthma does still kill. In 2006, 402 Australians died from asthma.

"There is no cure for asthma, but asthma deaths are preventable - we just need to continue to take it seriously," Kristine Whorlow said.

For more information on the 35th Australian Antiquarian Book Fair visit: anzaab

National Asthma Council Australia