About

Our mission is like being matchmakers for books—except instead of setting up awkward blind dates, we're finding the perfect homes for rare and unique books, ephemera, and manuscripts from the last five centuries, connecting people to our shared past.

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The topics covered include Astrology, Coloured plate books, Ephemera, Judaica, Literature, Medicine, Science and Travel. We've got a taste for the weird and wonderful, so you never know what you'll stumble upon on our website—maybe it's a murder pamphlet, a circus pitch card, or an early-modern work banning homosexuality.

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Black Dog Rare Books was founded in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, in December 2018 by me, Steven de Joode. I hold a BA (Hons.) in German and an MA (Hons.) in Book and Manuscript Studies from the University of Amsterdam.

I have worked as a bibliographer at the National Library of the Netherlands, as a cataloguer and dealer at Antiquariaat Forum, and a rare books expert at Catawiki, which gave me a wealth of experience in the rare book industry. I am a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA).

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Steven is joined in running the company by me, his partner Chantal Germaine Haak. I have a background in psychology and previous experience as a broker. I bring a blend of business savvy and a curious mind to the company, along with a keen eye for the unusual. Oh, and occasionally I do a little dance behind my computer.

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Our clients include libraries, museums, private collectors, and fellow members of the trade. We like to keep everyone in the loop with our newsletters, so if you're not already subscribed, be sure to do so and you'll never miss a new arrival again.