First English language edition. "Books, Friends, and Bibliophilia" is a unique autobiographical by a very interesting Dutch antiquarian bookseller. The book is also a well-written look behind the scenes of Europe's antiquarian book trade from 1950 to the present. With a story rich in anedotes and colorful characters, Anton Gertis introduces us to many of the giants of the trade such as H.P. Kraus, Maurice L. Ettinghausen, and Menno Hertzberger with both modesty and wit. He weaves within his work the stories behind the building of important private libraries and the Special Collections department in the institutional libraries of Western Europe and behind the Iron Curtain.Anton Gertis is past President of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. He is also the author of over a dozen books; however, this memoir is an excellent overview of his long and fascinating career and will be of interest to collectors and bibliophiles the world over.