
The ABA and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers
Published on 27 March 2018This text by the late Anthony Rota, ABA bookseller and ILAB President of Honour, was published in 2008 in the ABA Directory.
The global network of rare booksellers in 37 countries
In the aftermath of World War II, representatives from five European countries met in Amsterdam to discuss a new international booksellers’ organization. Its goal was to foster friendship and understanding and to encourage international peace through open markets. By September 1948, ten countries had joined and ILAB/LILA was formally incorporated in Copenhagen. Today’s League retains its original official languages, English and French, and now consists of twenty-two national associations representing some thirty-seven countries and around 1800 individual bookselling firms.
Contact
International League of Antiquarian Booksellers ILAB/LILA
The ILAB Secretariat can be contacted via email.
Booksellers’ Expertise – Buy with Confidence
The main objectives of the League are to uphold and advance technical and ethical standards, to encourage international trade, and to contribute to a broader appreciation of the history and art of the book.
Affiliated booksellers worldwide adhere to ILAB’s strict Code of Usages and Customs requiring books and related material to be accurately and professionally described and to guarantee the authenticity and genuineness of all material for sale.
ILAB has recently launched the ILAB International Mentoring Programme. This programme aims to help young or recently launched booksellers throughout the world by offering support and counsel on a one to one basis.
Seminars on rare book-related issues are an ideal opportunity to learn about the trade, whether at the beginning or throughout the career. Please find below a selection of seminars, sorted by country. If you would like to list a course, please do get in touch with ILAB. For questions about the individual seminars or courses, please contact the individual organisers.
Various countries offer university education in the field of book history, bookselling and book trade. Degrees and the duration of studies varies. For detailed information, please contact the university directly.