Joint Catalogue – 80th Anniversary of the Dutch Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (NVvA)

By Frank Rutten, President of the NVvA

A “Fair-Less” Year: For the last ten years, this catalogue was issued on the occasion of the Antiquarian Book Fair at the Passenger Terminal in Amsterdam. Members of the Dutch Antiquarian Booksellers Association presented their treasures through the catalogue but also referred to the Fair, where one could view and touch books and prints in tangible form.

This year, we will confine ourselves to the catalogue. We will skip the Fair for a year. As the French saying goes: “Reculer pour mieux sauter.” In 2016, we hope to welcome you in a new setting.

Founded in 1935, the NVvA celebrates its 80th birthday. Antiquarian booksellers are the guardians of paper heritage. We love history, especially our own! Many look back in nostalgia. We, however, face the future with confidence. This makes two reasons for a grand display. Hundreds of books, maps, prints and photographs are presented in this catalogue, the oldest book dating from 1478, the youngest from 1996. Five centuries of world heritage within reach. Take your pick!

A big “thank you!” goes to Jeroen Zaal for coordinating and editing this catalogue. As in previous years, Julius Steiner was in charge of the catalogue’s mailing.

NVvA is affiliated with the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. This implies that all our sales are covered by a guarantee. See our ‘Code of Usages and Customs’ at www.nvva.nl or www.ilab.org.

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Preface of the Joint Catalogue. Click above to download the PDF version or visit the website of the NVvA.