ILAB holds first Online Presidents' Meeting and elects new Committee

Robert Schoisengeier (Austria) and Michael (Oscar) Graves-Johnston (UK) are leaving the committee after 4 years.

Sally Burdon of Asia Bookroom Canberra, Australia, has been part of the ILAB committee since 2014, served as Vice-President from 2016 – 2018 and was elected ILAB President in 2018.

“It is a great honour to be elected President of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers for a second term. I am very grateful to my colleagues in the rare book trade for the trust they have put in me to represent the trade internationally for another term. Although the focus in ILAB is frequently on the president, in reality, the work is done by the whole committee, Executive Secretary Angelika Elstner, the National Association Presidents and others who work on ILAB projects. I am aware how very fortunate I am to work with a committee of such particular talent, integrity and commitment.
I am delighted to report that Italian bookseller Mario Giupponi was elected Vice President of ILAB yesterday. Mario has led ALAI, the Italian rare booksellers association, through sometimes difficult times, with care and wisdom. It is also a very great pleasure to welcome German autograph and manuscript dealer Eberhard Koestler and British bookseller Angus O'Neill to the ILAB Committee. Both of these dealers are highly capable, intelligent and experienced people who will serve the trade very well.
The ILAB committee has enacted a number of changes in the past 31 months which we intend to consolidate during the term of this new committee. We will also be launching a new website, and most importantly, in 2021 the ILAB Missing Books Register. This site will replace the current Stolen Books Database. Featuring up to date listings the new Missing Books Database will more closely address the needs of librarians, collectors, and law enforcement. ILAB is very committed to stopping theft and forgery of rare books and associated materials on paper worldwide. We see the ILAB Missing Books Register as a very important step towards doing this. More information will be issued on this important new resource will be issued in the first months of 2021.”

Mario Giupponi of Studio Bibliografico Benacense in Riva del Garda, Italy has been a bookseller for over 30 years, specialising in 16th to 19th century books in Italian and in French, mainly in the field of history and travel. He is fluent in French, German, English and Spanish besides his mother tongue Italian, very familiar with the continental book trade and was fundamental in re-establishing the Italian rare book fairs in Milan, Turin and Parma.

“I am very honoured to participate in the activities of the ILAB Committee as Vice-President and to work alongside my international colleagues. I hope to make a significant contribution to the work that awaits us.”

Eberhard Köstler and Angus O’Neill joined the committee.

Eberhard Köstler (Köstler Autographen & Bücher, Germany) started his career in the auction business and set up his own autograph and manuscript business in 2000. He was president of the German Antiquarian Booksellers Association, VDA from 2006-2012 and for no less than 30 years the organiser of the annual German antiquarian bookselling seminar. After many years on the board of the German association, he is now keen to commit time for the international community.

Angus O’Neill of Omega Bookshop, UK has been an independent bookseller since 1982 and a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, ABA since 1989. He served as president of the ABA from 2017-2019 and played a key role in a number of political campaigns against trade hindering legislations.

In further elections the presidents confirmed the remaining committee in their roles: Stuart Bennett (ILAB General Secretary), Rob Shepherd (Treasurer), Anne Lamort and Pavel Chepyzhov.

Gonzalo Fernandéz Pontes who served as ILAB President from 2016 – 2018 was elected at this year’s Presidents Meeting as President of Honour. He thanked his international colleagues: “I started my work for ILAB in 2008, organizing the ILAB Congress and Book Fair in Madrid which was a great success. I had the opportunity to meet many people, some of them became friends over the years but what really matters and remains is a pleasant memory of all events and persons. I would like to thank Sally Burdon for her support as Vice-President during my presidency and the entire committee during that time. Thank you for this honour which I will keep with pride and responsibility for the rest of my life."