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'Med gamle bøker mot en ny tid' - 'With old books in modern times': 75 Years Norwegian Association

15 November 2017
"Through the association the trade has organized themselves as managers and intermediaries of the cultural heritage of books. While the books are waiting for their new owners, it is the antiquarians that take care of them. It is they who bring about the material remains of our literary heritage to new readers, to collectors and institutions. Thus they secure great cultural values for the future, and they distinguish between the valuable and the worthless, between the inalienable and waste paper. Hence the antiquarians contribute, not only to preserve the cultural heritage; they also to a large extent, contribute to define it."
Articles old books modern times norway 2017

A Message from Jens Haugfos of Drammen Antikvariat, Oslo and President of NABF; The Norwegian Association of Antiquarian Booksellers

This year, the Norsk Antikvarbokhandlerforening is 75 years old. Although impressive, this pales in comparison with the trade itself, which goes back as long as the written word.

In the introduction to our jubilee book 'Med gamle bøker mot en ny tid' ('With old books in modern times'), the main author Ernst Bjerke says: 'Through the association the trade has organized themselves as managers and intermediaries of the cultural heritage of books. While the books are waiting for their new owners, it is the antiquarians that take care of them. It is they who bring about the material remains of our literary heritage to new readers, to collectors and institutions. Thus they secure great cultural values for the future, and they distinguish between the valuable and the worthless, between the inalienable and waste paper. Hence the antiquarians contribute, not only to preserve the cultural heritage; they also to a large extent, contribute to define it.'

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The initiative to found the association was taken in 1942 by J.W. Cappelens Antikvariat, Damms Antikvariat, Norlis Antikvariat and Oslo Antikvariat, the first three still exist and are represented at this year's book fair. The total number of members has varied from 4 to 22 members, and now we are 18 organized antiquarian bookstores in Norway.


We look forward to welcoming you at the Oslo Antiquarian Book Fair this year!

Jens K. Haugfos
Norsk Antikvarbokhandlerforening (NABF)
The Oslo Antiquarian Book Fair is organised by the Norwegian Antiquarian Booksellers' Association, Norsk Antikvarbokhandlerforening with exhibitors primarily from Norway but also Sweden and Denmark.
In 2017, the association is celebrating its 75th anniversary and has just published the above mentioned publication which will be launched during the fair!
The fair takes place at Oslo's Litteraturhuset (House of Literature), Norway's first and Europe's largest house of its kind, dedicated to literature in the widest sense of the word.
For more information, please follow this link.