Curators of old prints and manuscripts

Bibles, atlases, travel diaries and letters. Pamphlets, ordinances, newspapers and magazines. The Heritage Library has two curators for our vast collection of old prints: Marie-Charlotte Le Bailly and Steven Van Impe. They are responsible for the acquisition and processing of these works and the communication on the sub-collections.

Acquisition

Our collection of old prints and manuscripts always keeps growing thanks to donations and purchases. Aside from a few exceptions, we always accept collections of old prints that are donated to us. We are more meticulous when it comes to the purchase of new pieces as they must have a connection with Antwerp.

Processing

It is important for researchers and students to know which old prints and manuscripts exist and what kind of information they hold. That is why the curators spend a lot of time and effort to make a detailed description of each work. That way, you can consult them via our online catalogue Brocade. Some pieces have also been digitised, either internally or via group projects like Google Books.

Communication

We regularly inform researchers about new acquisitions and remarkable works through newsletters, social media, meetings with academics and researchers, and guest lectures for universities. The curators also organise expositions, guide researchers and upon request study the peculiar aspects of a work when researchers cannot make it to our reading room themselves.

Inquiries and other requests

Do you have a question about old prints and manuscripts? Ask our curators Marie-Charlotte Le Bailly and Steven Van Impe. They would be happy to help you with, for example:

We advise upon request about the possible digitisation of documents
We also help with content-related questions
We answer your technical questions about the paper, printing techniques, proportions and binding methods of the books in our collection
We help you place the books in their rightful historical context and correctly interpret them as sources
We support instructors that want to use our collection in their lectures or research seminars

We do not:

Estimate the insurance value of books. It would be better to consult an antiquarian. You can find trustworthy antiquarians on the website of the Belgian Appeals Chamber of Antiquarians.
Do your homework or write you thesis. Of course, we will help you in your research and give you advice, but the writing is up to you.