Antiquarenbeurs Mechelen

This International Antiquarian Book fair is held every year in December in the Cultural Centre of the city of Malines. The date and opening hours for the 2024 Fair are as follows:

During the 33rd edition of the Book and Print Fair in Mechelen, you can enjoy two fascinating mini-exhibitions:

Mini-Exhibition 1: The 460th Anniversary of Andreas Vesalius' Death

In 2024, we commemorate the 460th anniversary of the death of Andreas Vesalius, the father of modern anatomy. This mini-exhibition is dedicated to his groundbreaking contributions to medicine, where he overturned traditional ideas about anatomy through empirical research. The printing press played a crucial role in the dissemination of Vesalius' knowledge and ideas, and you can admire some rare books in this exhibition. In addition, there will be works on display from private collections in Belgium and the Netherlands, making this exhibition particularly unique.

The theme "Mens sana in corpore sano" (A healthy mind in a healthy body) is fitting for this Olympic year and is interpreted broadly. The exhibited works cover topics such as anatomy, pharmacy, astrological medicine (like the zodiac man from old almanacs), quackery, alchemy, hygiene, virus prevention, wellness, herbals, medical technology (such as X-rays), sports, mental well-being (with references to Freud), nutrition (cookbooks), preventive medicine (plague booklets), and environmental health (pollution and climate).

View the accompanying catalog for this remarkable exhibition: Download the Vesalius Catalog. (Please note: the catalog is only available in Dutch.)

Mini-Exhibition 2: IKA Book Art Program

The second mini-exhibition is a presentation of the students from the Book Art Program at the Institute for Art and Craft (IKA). Here they showcase their finest works, demonstrating a wide range of bookbinding techniques they have learned during their studies. The displayed books are all unique, hand-bound masterpieces that highlight the creative possibilities of bookbinding. Throughout the fair, someone will be available to provide more information about the program and answer all your questions.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the world of rare books, medical history, and artistic craftsmanship at the Book and Print Fair in Mechelen!

Our website provides comprehensive information about the participants of the fair, as well as the annual catalogue. For further details on the listed titles, please feel free to contact the individual dealers directly.

By browsing the online version of our catalogue, you'll see why the Antiquarian Book Fair in Mechelen (Malines) proudly calls itself truly international. This year, as in previous years, we are delighted to welcome participants from France, the Netherlands, Germany, England, and of course, many from Belgium.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Fair. If you would like to receive additional information or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Exhibitors interested in participating are also encouraged to get in touch for more details.