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I was deeply saddened upon learning of the death of Umberto Eco, Patron of Honor of ILAB and ALAI, philosopher, scientist, homme de lettres, customer and friend to so many of us. I am extremely grateful to have met this outstanding person many times, and I remember the many discussions about books with him during the book fairs in Milano. He was, by all fair means, a brilliant thinker and an extremely cultivated and educated man. What probably counts even more, is the fact that he had a critical look on his beloved country, Italy, and he didn't hesitate to oppose many politicians whenever he had the feeling that they were wrong.

In the past ILAB had always seemed to me rather distant and not relevant to my business or life in the trade. I believe I was not alone in this opinion. Even worse I thought it was a dull body "banging" on about rules and regulations which the National Associations already did very well. I really didn't see ILAB as serving any purpose for me as I wasn't interested in exhibiting overseas. So yes, you guessed it; this is one of those how wrong could I be stories…

On behalf of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of Hungary, I am very happy to invite you to the 42nd ILAB Congress and the 1st International Antiquarian Book Fair of Budapest, which will take place between the 21 and 25 September 2016 in Budapest. It is a great pleasure and honour for me that Budapest will have the privilege to host this prestigious event, as we are proud to present the Hungarian capital to you as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with a rich and colourful cultural life and an immensely varied history...

Have you already registered for the ILAB Congress and / or for the succeeding ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair? Have a look at the promising programme and do not hesitate to subscribe. In a series of articles we will introduce you to the most exciting places of Budapest – libraries, museums, archives, music halls and other famous sites. Joins us on our virtual tour through the Hungarian capital. Today we will invite you to a virtual tour through the: Treasures of the National Library Széchenyi.

For the first time ever the Hungarian rare book dealers invite colleagues and collectors from across the world to Budapest. The 42nd ILAB Congress and 26th ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair from 21 to 25 September 2016 will present Budapest as one of the most beautiful cities and one of the most fascinating book capitals in Europe. The congress programme is as manifold as exciting and proves that Budapest is a city with many faces: the old Hungarian capital full of books and music, history and tradition and at the same time a lively and busy Eastern European centre full of young and amazing cultural concepts. Have you already registered for the ILAB Congress and / or for the succeeding ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair? Have a look at the promising programme and do not hesitate to subscribe. In a series of articles we will introduce you to the most exciting places of Budapest – libraries, museums, archives, music halls and other famous sites. Joins us on our virtual tour through the Hungarian capital and be sure: the 42nd ILAB Congress and 26th ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair in September 2016 are worth a visit.

There are numerous places in Budapest - lovely, exciting, relaxing, inspiring places. The Hungarian antiquarian booksellers and organizers of the 42nd ILAB Congress and 26th International Antiquarian Book Fair in Budapest, Hungary, from 21 to 25 September 2016 are recommending some of the best hotels in several price categories. Register now for the ILAB Congress in Budapest 2016!

Was that it? Was Bob's involvement in ILAB finished and done with? Oh no! ILAB needed a Treasurer capable of taking its accounting system into the 21st Century and turned once more to Bob Fleck to take on this difficult and not so enchanting job, which he took on in April 2014. He worked relentlessly during a year and a half, until the Seville Presidents' Meeting in October 2015, to put all the accounts in order and once the job was brilliantly done … he resigned, having been asked to head New Castle's Historical Society, and for once in his life, he could not be able to find the time to work, rest, and work and work again and again. To thank him, once more, and perhaps not for the last time, for his devotion to ILAB matters, Bob Fleck was awarded during the 2015 October Seville Presidents' Meeting with the ILAB Medal, engraved on its back: "In recognition of services rendered to the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers."

After Paris, Lucerne, Bologna and Madrid book dealers and book collectors will meet in Budapest for the 42nd ILAB Congress and 26th International Antiquarian Book Fair from 21 to 25 September 2016. The Hungarian Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (MAE) and its President Ádám Bősze are organizing an exciting congress programme that will show the delegates from across the world that Budapest is a city with many faces: the old Hungarian capital full of books and music, history and tradition and at the same time a lively and busy Eastern European centre full of young and amazing cultural concepts.

The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers unites 22 national associations, representing 35 countries and nearly 2000 professional rare book dealers worldwide. In its over 60 years of existence, ILAB has become a truly global network of the international antiquarian book trade. Once in a year the presidents of ILAB's member associations, who form the governing body of the League, meet to discuss recent trends of the trade, the activities of ILAB within the past year along with initiatives and actions that shall be taken to promote the rare book business in the future. On 1st October 2015 Gonzalo Fernandez Pontes, President of the Asociación Ibérica de Librerias Anticuarias (AILA) and Vice-President of ILAB, welcomed the delegates of the Presidents' Meeting in Seville. The Spanish city on the river Guadalquivir is not only known to be one of the hottest European spots with a summer average high temperature of 35° C, but also one of the most beautiful places in Europe. The Roman and Medieval centre of Seville owns three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Alcázar Palace, the Cathedral, and the General Archive of the Indies. Only a short walk away from these famous sites the ILAB delegates met at the Palace of the Duke of Segorbe to hold their annual meeting.The items on the agenda show that the rare book trade has to face severe problems and radical changes, but that there also promising perspectives and new paths to follow for better future partnerships and cooperation within the rare book world. The most important item on the agenda of each meeting is the report of the ILAB President. Read the detailed and excellent speech ILAB President Norbert Donhofer held yesterday to open the Presidents' Meeting 2015 in Seville: