The Association internationale de bibliophilie (AIB; English: '''International Association of Bibliophiles''') is a society of bibliophiles with the stated goal of providing a permanent link between bibliophiles from different countries, whether or not they belong to bibliophilic societies, and to facilitate the organisation of international meetings, such as exhibitions or congresses.[1]
It was established on 10 October 1963.[2] The idea for an international federation of bibliophiles was first put forward at the First International Congress of Bibliophily (held in Munich, 1959); it was discussed once again at the Second Congress (Paris, September–October 1961), with Julien Cain, the general administrator of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, appointed to chair a provisional administrative council that was tasked with drawing up the statutes of such an organisation, alongside several world-renowned collectors and specialists. At the Third Congress held in Barcelona, in 1963, the Cain proposals were formally adopted and the International Association of Bibliophiles was finally constituted as a legal and financial entity "without gainful purpose". It was based in Paris at the Bibliothèque nationale with its secretariat at the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal.[3]
Its first President was Julien Cain; he was succeeded by Frederick B. Adams Jr.[3] from 1974 to 1983.[4] Anthony Hobson was President of the AIB from 1985 to 1999.[5] Its President from 1999 to 2006 was the Count of Orgaz[6] and, from 2006 to 2013, Thomas Kimball Brooker. More recently, the AIB was presided by Jean Bonna.[7]
Bulletin du bibliophile, the oldest bibliophilic journal still in print, founded in 1834, is currently published under the aegis of the International Association of Bibliophiles.[8]