Libraly Journal

Libraly Journal ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (409): 153-161.

Previous Articles    

The Disenchantment of “Revitalize the Antiquarian Book Trade” from the End of the 20th Century to the Beginning of the 21st Century

Wang Yuxiao (School of Information Management, Nanjing University)   

  • Online:2025-05-15 Published:2025-05-28
  • About author:Wang Yuxiao (School of Information Management, Nanjing University)

Abstract:

After about two thousand years of rough development, antiquarian book trade in China had alreadybeen in decline by the mid to late 1980s. Although industry insiders and outsiders have called for suggestionsand the antique book industry has taken proactive measures to help oneself, the dream of revitalizing theantique book industry has ultimately been shattered. This article analyzes three main contradictions containedin Chinese antiquarian book trade: namely old and new, private and public, loss and profit. These contradictionsdeprive the business entity and business model of antiquarian book trade, undermine the enthusiasm for booksource mining and management, the flexibility of the book market response, and the consciousness of talentcultivation in the industry. There are problems such as the gradual depletion of antique and old book sources,the inability to sustain profits, and the lack of targeted support policies. Therefore, it is believed that this is theresult of the one-size-fits-all policy of the current government and political system towards the antique bookindustry, which should be taken as a historical mirror