"The nature of the material we handle is an endless source of pleasure."

Rob van Vulpen recently joined the Dutch Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association (NVvA) and thereby the international ILAB community. We spoke with Rob about his path into the trade and dealing in vintage posters, a field he has pursued with passion since a young age.

What triggered your interest in rare books and becoming a poster dealer?

As long as I can remember I have had an interest in history, design and communication. It is only in retrospective that my interests pointed in the direction of becoming a dealer in vintage posters. I went through the school system without a clue that this would be my destination. Although my degree in commercial economics has been helpful, I realized early that I wouldn’t spend my life in marketing. And when I started buying and selling posters I quickly learned that many posters were designed by artists who also made prints and illustrated books. And with the expanding knowledge you learn more about graphic design and start to appreciate other printed ephemera such as advertising brochures, sheet music and calendars.

What kinds of material excite you most when you discover them?

The most exciting moments are when you rediscover a forgotten work by an important artist. I have managed to find graphic works by artists like Kees van Dongen, Alphonse Mucha and Adolphe Mouron Cassandre, which weren’t included in their catalogues raisonné. Especially because those works were printed in editions makes it the more gratifying. I see posters which I have never seen previously on a daily basis, so you never stop learning. I try to present posters which are not widely available, so I can surprise my customers.

What motivated you to join your national association and ILAB?

Being a poster dealer with a gallery in a small town means you meet few people on most days, so being a member of a larger organization gives you the idea of having colleagues. I always enjoy the interaction with fellow dealers and participating in book fairs.

What challenges do newer dealers face today?

We live in the age of copy/paste, where the original digital file is exactly the same as the copy. And with high resolution cameras and printers it is very easy and cheap to make reproductions. There is less appreciation for the quality and experience of a first printing.
Also AI makes people less curious, every answer, true or false, ends the urge to find out things yourself. So you really have to convince people that they are not just purchasing an image. Being a member of ILAB is an advantage when winning the trust of your clients.

Buying and selling rare books and other antiquarian material is more than just a job, it is often a passion and a lifestyle. What do you love most about your work?

Being independent, making your own choices about how to spend your time and how much effort to put in are very motivating for me. The opportunity to learn every day, meeting interesting colleagues and clients and make an occasional trip adds to that. And of course the nature of the material we handle is an endless source of pleasure.

Image 1: Rob van Vulpen with the Mayor of Amsterdam, Mrs. Femke Halsema at PAN Amsterdam 2024
Image 2: Rob van Vulpen and wife at PAN Amsterdam 2024