As many as 7,300 exhibitors from 110 countries and regions have booked stands in the Frankfurt Book Fair, to be held next month, organizers of the world's top annual publishing show said Wednesday.

The number is more than last year's record, fair chief executive Juergen Boos was quoted as saying by German news agency DPA.

The October 10-14 event, where worldwide book rights are traded and top authors beat the drum for their newest books, will this year feature Catalan culture as a "special-guest" theme.

Boos said the Book Fair was running out of space at the Frankfurt fairgrounds, using all six of the suitable pavilions to full capacity. Exhibitors have booked 170,000 square meters of stand space.

The fairgrounds, currently hosting the IAA motor show which is the biggest trade fair using the site, are located in the city center.

The fair's own events timetable shows that 1,000 authors, some famous, some obscure, will be at the fair to meet booksellers and publishers.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2007)