The Arts and the Antiquarian Book Trade: The Inherited Past and a Viable Future

Abstract

It is an honor for me to be standing here and to have a moment or two sharing with you some of my experiences and expectations.

The other day I received a liability insurance contract where it was stated that the insured was a corporation, indeed, my corporation. Then it said “occupation: amusement and recreation services.” It surprised me, as the concept of amusement and recreation is not the steady companion of an antiquarian book-dealer, neither of myself nor of any of my colleagues. Let us see together how we reached the point where we are now.

The concept of . . .