The Swedish Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (SVAF) has donated their extensive collection of Swedish antiquarian catalogues to the library.
The Swedish Antiquarian Booksellers' Association's Catalogue Collection
ImageErik VesterbergSVAF was founded in 1936 and the collection consists not only of catalogues published by the association's members, but also other catalogue publishing booksellers are represented. More than one hundred different dealers can be found here and the collection spans from the mid-1800s up to the present day.
The Swedish Antiquarian Booksellers' Association's Catalogue Collection
The catalogues – most often published as a periodical – contain variously detailed lists of books that the antiquarian bookseller had for sale. In this collection, a highly varied range of publishing can be found, from lavish rare book catalogues, with detailed descriptions and comments about each item, to simple photocopied leaflets in which the books on offer are only very rudimentarily described. Many of the more ambitious catalogues function on their own as excellent subject bibliographies.
Classic Swedish rare book dealers, such as Klemming and Björck & Börjesson, are represented, but also lesser-known second-hand book dealers from different periods. Together these catalogues provide a unique insight into more than one hundred and fifty years of Swedish booksellers’ history.