THE BRITISH
RARE BOOK SOCIETY

8 CECIL COURT • LONDON WC2N 4HE

info@rarebooksociety.org

The Rare Book Society was founded in 2004 to unite all those who care about old and rare books (and other printed or manuscript material) - their history, their care and preservation, their collection and especially their study. It differs from other book and bibliographical societies in that its primary purpose is an educational one - and to this end the Fellows of the Society are gradually commissioning a series of practical internet-based courses in various aspects of the book and its history, and the trade in rare books.

COURSES

The courses will be written, marked and monitored by leading experts in their field - both from within the rare book trade and without - and they are aimed at everyone with a willingness to learn more, from novice booksellers and collectors or those who have always wanted an opportunity to explore a general interest, to those who already have a broad grounding and simply wish to improve and extend their knowledge in a particular field. For details of courses currently available and in active preparation please click here.

DEBATES

Aside from running specialised courses, the Rare Book Society also provides a platform for ongoing debates on topics of general interest to booksellers, collectors and rare book librarians - especially those topics that are controversial or otherwise left unaired. These debates are open to all (subject to the usual norms of editorial discretion) - to join in or simply to view the current debates click here.

MEMBERS

Membership of the Rare Book Society is restricted to those elected by invitation - the Fellows - generally reserved for those who have in their professional or published work in some way advanced the study of old and rare books or allied materials - and to those who qualify for Membership by successfully completing one or more of the courses. The Society receives no funding from any governmental, educational or professional body, and is reliant on the fees generated from the courses it puts on for its continuation. Any surplus income from the courses, once the commissioning and administrative costs are paid, is devoted to building up sufficient funds to commission further courses or research studies.