The Amsterdam University Library holds one of the largest collections in Europe in the field of the production and distribution of the book, the book trade and also the conservation of the book. An important division of this collection is on loan from the Royal Society of the Dutch Book Trade (KVB).
In addition the holdings comprise several (typo)graphic collections, publications relevant to traditional and modern typography and bibliophily, including the Typographical Library (containing e.g. important collections of type specimens), works on the history of paper and the science of watermarks (the Labarre collection), a large collection of archives and documentation portfolios of Dutch publishing companies, publishers’ lists, letters and many hundreds of portraits of publishers.
There is also a large collection of Dutch and foreign catalogues of antiquarian books and auction catalogues. In the Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana much information can be found on the history of the Jewish book.