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Search for Rare Books
The NvVA Booksearch alllows users to browse our database, looking for rare books, maps, prints, photography, ephemera and all antiquarian material offered by members of the Dutch Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (NVvA – Nederlandsche Vereeniging van Antiquaren).
Why Collect Rare Books?
An Interview with ILAB Past President Arnoud Gerits
There are no clear definitions that distinguish “rare books” from “old books” or “antiquarian books”. The standard definition of an antiquarian book is a book over 100 years old, traditionally antiquarian books are those printed before 1800. But through usage the meaning has changed and rare books can now include 20th century books. It must be remembered that there are 19th and 20th century books that are much more difficult to find than a good number of 16th and 17th century books. “Old” does not necessarily mean “rare”, “rare” does not necessarily mean “old”. In general I would say that any book that is rare and collectable and can no longer be obtained from the publisher, is a rare or antiquarian book, but a rare or antiquarian book is not necessarily old!
