ILAB calls for submissions for the 19th ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography 2026

The prize is awarded every four years, with a first prize of US$10,000 and second and third prizes of US$5,000 and US$3,000 respectively. In addition to the prize, the judges may, at their discretion, award Honourable Mentions to other deserving entries.

The prize is awarded by the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, ILAB, funded by a donation from the B. H. Breslauer Foundation, which was set up by the noted antiquarian bookseller Dr. Bernard H. Breslauer (1918-2004). The purpose of the prize is to recognize the authors of the three best works, published or unpublished, in the field of scholarly bibliography, research into the history of the book or book trade, book design or binding, typography, exhibition and private library catalogues, manuscript and early printed book catalogues, or books of general interest on the subject.

“The Breslauer Prize, sponsored by the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), is unique in the world of bibliography and book history. Conferred only once every four years, the Prize provides formal recognition of the achievements of authors, editors, and scholars, many of whom have dedicated their professional lives to books and book history. In the past we have had submissions primarily from Europe and North America, but to properly reflect the continuing progress of work being done in the field of bibliography and its growth on the global stage, in 2026 we want to expand the Prize’s embrace to include work done by scholars and book historians working in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.” Daniel De Simone, Secretary Breslauer Prize

Additional prizes of US$1000 for submissions from an Asian, African, and Central & South American publisher

For the 2026 Prize three additional awards of US$1000 each will be offered for a submission from an Asian, African, and Central & South American publisher or author in the field of bibliography, or book related history. These special awards are meant to encourage authors from these underrepresented regions to participate in the Prize thus helping ILAB to expand its mission of creating a worldwide network for booksellers, book collectors, librarians, and bibliographers.

ILAB would like to thank rare booksellers Asia Bookroom, Peter Harrington, Scott DeWolfe and Charles Kutcher for sponsoring these additional prizes.

Entries are not restricted to English-language publications: all languages and places of publication will be considered by an international jury.

One copy of the publication should be sent to the ABA/ILAB Library in London before May 2026, where all submissions for the prize are catalogued.

Submissions for the Prize should be sent to:

The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers
ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography
c/o Peter Harrington
100 Fulham Road
SW3 6HS London, United Kingdom

Questions & further enquiries:

Dan DeSimone, ILAB Breslauer Prize Secretary: desimonecompanybooks@gmail.com
Angelika Elstner, ILAB Executive Secretary: secretariat@ilab.org
Website & Archive of past prizes: www.ilabprize.org