AioloZ was founded by Piet and Monique van Winden in 1985 and was until 2008 located in a characteristic shop in the historic centre of Leyden. AioloZ built up a strong name as an antiquarian bookshop in the past years, specialising in modern Dutch literature in first editions, autographs, Dutch and foreign illustrated books and bibliophile publications, photo books and avant-garde books. The identity of AioloZ is strongly characterised by the literary manifestations that were organised in the past years and the discovery of ephemeral publications and autographs.

Among the acquisitions that raised the attention, we mention: an unknown juvenile poetical manuscript by Gerrit Komrij, several self-published debuts (Reve, Hermans, Komrij), a pristine copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer in pigskin binding, the only complete collection of the Gogmagog Press, authors’ first copies, important correspondences and manuscripts by Couperus, Slauerhoff, Reve, Büch, Hermans, Kouwenaar, Vestdijk, Roland Holst, Kosinski and Thelen. The purchase of the author’s own copy of the most legendary Dutch novel of the 20th century (Gerard Reve’s De Avonden, 1947) for a then unprecedented price was the first in a long and ongoing series of acquisitions that raised the attention of the media, which is still quite unusual for the trade.

In January 2008 Laurens Heij continued the business after Piet and Monique van Winden had decided to change the span of their career. Laurens plans to keep AioloZ’ stock recognizable for the vast group of clients and will hold the same specialisations. But with his 9 years all-round experience in a books and prints auction house, he is always on the look-out for the better miscellanea category books. He also takes part in the Friday book market on the Spui in Amsterdam. Today AioloZ is opened by appointment only and will move to the countryside of Nieuwerbrug in the near future. We issue catalogues on an irregular basis and send e-mail newsletters with acquisitions to our clients.

Laurens Heij.

1988 First exposition of the books by Gerard Reve

1994 First exposition of the books Louis Couperus (Royal Theatre, The Hague)

1997 Celebration 50^th anniversary of De Avonden (Allerheiligste Hartkerk, Amsterdam)

1999 Participation Willem Frederik Hermans Festival (De Balie, Amsterdam)

2001 Auction of the private collection of Baroness Angele Manteau (Brussels)

2003 Foundation of the Gerard Reve Museum (Amsterdam)

2004 Celebration of the 60^th Birthday of Gerrit Komrij, National Poet of the Netherlands, Sale of a private collection of his books and autographs