Syndicat National de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (SLAM)

The Syndicat National de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (SLAM) was created in 1914, and is one of the biggest and oldest antiquarian booksellers associations, preceded by the ABA only which was founded as early as 1906. One of its primary objectives is to make the public aware of the world of antique books.

It is the sole representative of the rare book trade in France, and as such, it plays an active part in maintaining relations with the public administration as well as with private organizations and book dealers. Its activities are equally directed towards the promotion of the book trade and the knowledge of the book. The SLAM includes about 250 book, autograph and print dealers, whose knowledge and professionalism are vouched for by strict admission rules. All of them guarantee

- competence and scholarship
- the authenticity of the books, manuscripts and prints
- honesty, professionalism and fair trade throughout the world

They are experts in their fields of knowledge, and upkeep the tradition of bibliophily while preparing the bibliophily of tomorrow. They are devoted to the transmission of knowledge and to the preservation of culture. SLAM dealers advise you on your purchases and help you develop or sell your collections. Their sales catalogues are precious bibliographic tools.

Together with their colleagues from Denmark, Sweden, Great Britain and the Netherlands, the French booksellers were founding members of ILAB. After the Preliminary Meeting in Amsterdam and the 1st Congress in Copenhagen the SLAM invited the ILAB affiliates to Paris for the 3rd Congress in the history of ILAB. Book dealers and bibliophiles returned to Paris in 1961 to attend the 14th ILAB Congress, in 1988 for the 29th Congress and the 12th International Antiquarian Book Fair, and in 2014 for the 41th ILAB Congress and 25th International Antiquarian Book Fair, while the Presidents met in the French capital in 1970 and 2007 for their annual meetings.

Georges Blaizot was ILAB President from 1951 to 1954, Fernand de Nobele followed him from 1967 to 1972. Alain Nicolas was ILAB President from 1996 to 2000, and is an ILAB Member of Honour.

Each year the SLAM organizes the International Antiquarian Book Fair. It started in 1984 at the Conciergerie, moved to the Maison de la Mutualitin 1993 and then to the glass-domed Grand Palais in 2007. During its 25 years of its existence the book fair at the elegant venue of the Grand Palais in Paris has become one of most prestigious events of the antiquarian book trade. Furthermore, the SLAM has been awarding a Bibliography Prize since 1998.

Board
Jean-Marc Dechaud | President
Alexandre Piffault | Vice-President
Charles-Henri de Boissieu | General Secretary
Jacques Desse | Treasurer

Committee Members

Véronique Delacroix | Conseiller
Nicolas Malais | Conseiller
Dider Martinez | Conseiller
Olivier Jean | Conseiller
Michel Saporta | Conseiller

Nicolas Malais ILAB Committee Member

Anne-Marie Coulon Executive Officer


Term of office

3 years (plus 3 years)

Annual meeting
December

Presidents of Honour

Henri Dauthon
Fernand De Nobele
Pierre Chrétien
Marc Penau
Francis Roux-Devillas
Jean-Jacques Magis
André Poursin
Georges Blaizot
André Deruelle
Antoine Grandmaison
Pierre Petitot
Louis Loeb-Laroque
Jeanne Laffitte
Alain Nicolas
Emmanuel Lhermitte
Alain Marchiset
Frédéric Castaing
Anne Lamort
Henry Vignes

Honorary Members

Emile Paul
A. Lefrançois
Mme J. Schemit
L. Pommeret
L. Giraud-Badin
V. Monin
J. Chambeau
M. Chamonal
L. Petitot
A. Lauria
L. Gautier
L. Jacquenet
M. Hertzberger
L.M. Fabre
A. Margraff
A. Franck
Mme Morel
A. Lequesne
R. Sergent
R. Briquet
H. Matarasso
H. Petiet
P. Muir
M. Bernstein
M. Blancheteau
R. Clavreuil
A. Mazo

Bibliography Prize

In charge: Patrick Hatchuel
The Prize is awarded every two years by SLAM

Book Fair

The Salon International du Livre Rare at the Grand Palais is held every year. In 2021, the fair moved to the temporary venue of the Grand Palais Éphémère.

Further Reading:

>> HISTORY OF THE SYNDICAT NATIONAL DE LA LIBRAIRIE ANCIENNE ET MODERNE (SLAM) 1914 - 1957 (English language)

>>> History of the S.L.A.M., Part 1, by René Cluzel (French Language)

>>> History of the S.L.A.M., Part 2, by René Cluzel (French Language)

>>> Antiquarian Books Do Have a Future! An interview with Alain Marchiset

>>> "You want to do a man's job, you will not last" - An interview with Miche Dhennequin

>>> Anne Lamort: "Tout ce que vous avez toujours voulu savoir sur LA BIBLIOPHILIE sans jamais avoir osé demander"
A scholarly and wonderful book about book collecting - Available for download here