International League of Antiquarian Booksellers


The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers is a non-profit international federation of bookseller associations, with its legal location in London, UK. It unites 22 national associations of Antiquarian Booksellers, representing over 1600 dealers in 39 countries. Antiquarian booksellers affiliated to the League adhere to the, and the League aims to serve as a global network for the rare book trade.
WWW ilab.org𝕏 ILABRareBooks

History

The idea of forming an international organization of antiquarian booksellers that would beneficially link national associations of antiquarian booksellers was originally conceived by the former president of the Dutch Association, Menno Hertzberger. As a Jew, he had spent part of the Second World War hiding from the Nazis. To quote him:
"Five long years had put up … barriers between nations. There was no communication. This enforced extra chauvinism - worse, hatred. Was there a possibility to do something about inter-human relationships, to bring nations more together? This was my dream. But how could it be realized? Only on common ground, on mutual interests. Therefore, for an antiquarian bookseller, by THE BOOK!"
In 1947, representatives from five countries, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden, met in Amsterdam to discuss the formation of such an organization, with the aim of establishing open markets, to foster friendship and understanding, and to counteract the animosity and suspicion engendered by World War Two.
The president of the British Association, Percy H. Muir, chaired the first conference and became a major role player in the evolution of the League; Muir also assembled the important scientific library of Ian Fleming, later author of the James Bond novels - through Muir, Fleming himself became a director of the London booksellers Elkin Mathews.
ILAB was formally incorporated in Copenhagen in September 1948, with ten participating countries, among them Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Great Britain, France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark. William S. Kundig from Switzerland was elected the first ILAB President in the history of the League. In his opening speech the Danish bookseller Einar Grønholt Pedersen defined the universal aims and ethics of all ILAB antiquarian booksellers:

Present status

22 national associations and over 1600 rare booksellers in 39 countries under one roof: Members of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers are the national associations, their members are affiliated to the League, and known as ILAB booksellers or ILAB affiliates.
ILAB Congresses and ILAB Book Fairs are important marketplaces of the rare book world.
The ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography is awarded every fourth year to outstanding academic works on bibliography and the history of the book. The ILAB aims to prevent book thefts worldwide.
The ILAB website is regularly updated with information on booksellers, the rare book market, international rare book fairs and events and holds a comprehensive search function for material for sale by ILAB booksellers:

Code of Customs and Usages

The League publishes, and upholds, a Code of Customs and Usages based on the wide experience of all its member nations. ILAB affiliated booksellers are expected to follow this code.
The display of the ILAB logo, and those of national associations, pledges to maintain authenticity of all material offered for sale, correct description of all such material, disclosure of all significant defects or restorations, accurate and professional pricing of all material, clear marking of all prices and care in the conduct of appraisals or valuations.

ILAB Congresses and International Book Fairs

ILAB Congresses and International Antiquarian Book Fairs are open to all antiquarian booksellers affiliated to the League through their national associations. They are cultural and social events held every two years in another country, where the delegates have the possibility to study the treasures of book printing and arts, and to deepen business contacts.
The first congresses were held in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, followed by London, Paris, Geneva, Milan, New York City, Ravenna, San Francisco, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Melbourne and many other cities. In 2022, the 44th ILAB Congress took place in Oxford, while in 2024 antiquarian booksellers and bibliophiles met in Amsterdam.
ILAB also sponsors international book fairs organised by the national associations, as for example in Paris, London, New York City, San Francisco, Melbourne, Stuttgart, Milan, Madrid, Amsterdam, Tokyo or in the Scandinavian capitals. These fairs provide members the opportunity to exhibit for sale books, prints and manuscripts.

National associations

Schweiz (VEBUKU)/Syndicat de la librairie ancienne et du commerce de l'estampe en Suisse (SLACES), Switzerland