ILAB

The ILAB Missing Books Register is an online platform created and hosted by the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), a global federation representing national antiquarian bookseller associations. Established to help recover stolen or missing cultural materials and prevent future thefts, the register serves people and institutions that handle rare books and antiquarian items. Users can report and register missing or stolen objects, search the database for specific items, and consult guidance on using the service. Access to reporting and search functions is free of charge.

The register covers rare books and related materials, including manuscripts, autographs, antique maps, and prints. Its listings provide information about reported objects, with recent entries ranging from works by Shakespeare, Austen, and Augustine to medieval manuscript leaves and a handwritten signature by Tycho Brahe. The site also shares news and resources related to provenance and security in the rare-book trade. As part of ILAB’s wider work against theft, forgery, and fraud, the register connects the antiquarian book community with a practical tool for identifying and recovering missing items.