Bubb Kuyper Auctions

About Bubb Kuyper

Bubb Kuyper Veilingen Boeken Manuscripten en Grafiek bv is a specialist auction house for books and works on paper in Haarlem. It describes itself as the largest specialised auctioneer of books and works on paper in the Netherlands and one of the leading firms in these fields in Western Europe. It holds two sales a year, in spring and autumn.

The firm is led by directors J.A.P. Bosch and T.W. Blankevoort, with a team of specialist staff. Every member of the team works on cataloguing as well as preparing the sale and handling shipping afterwards.

History

Bubb Kuyper was established in 1986. Over the years it has sold many of the larger Dutch private libraries and collections of graphic art. The firm's approach is to sell not only the most valuable books and prints in a collection but all the items that give the collection its identity.

Past special catalogues have included the library of the writer Boudewijn Büch, the library of Gerrit Komrij, medieval manuscripts, Dutch literary manuscripts, M.C. Escher and a selection from the personal archive of the designer Piet Zwart.

What Bubb Kuyper sells

Its annotated and illustrated catalogues cover a wide range of subjects, and a single sale can run to more than 5,000 lots across several days. The main fields are:

• Books: old and rare books, scholarly libraries, reference works, first editions, fine printing, illustrated books and paper toys
• Prints: old master prints, decorative and modern graphic art, Japanese prints, cartography, topographical prints, posters, photographs and ephemera
• Drawings: old, modern and decorative drawings, as well as watercolours and some paintings
• Manuscripts: medieval and literary manuscripts, autographs and documents

Selling at Bubb Kuyper

The firm accepts single items as well as complete libraries and collections, and issues separate catalogues for specialised collections. It also carries out valuations for probate and insurance. The seller's commission is not published on the website, so consignors should ask the firm for terms.

Buying and bidding

Bidders can take part live in the saleroom, leave written bids through the online catalogue or by email at no extra charge, or bid live online through Invaluable. Floor bids and written bids sent directly to the house take precedence over bids placed through Invaluable.

The buyer's premium for EU clients is 27.3% of the hammer price, including all taxes. EU clients with a VAT number and clients outside the EU pay 22.5%, with VAT reverse-charged where applicable. Successful bids through Invaluable carry an extra 5% of the hammer price, and artist's resale right of 4% applies to qualifying works hammered at 2,400 euros or more.

Location and viewing

The firm is based in a 19th-century villa in the centre of Haarlem, a two-minute walk from Haarlem railway station, which has a direct connection to Schiphol Airport. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00 to 17.00. The spring 2026 sale, for example, had four days of public viewing before the auction, and the firm supplies extra information and photographs of lots by email on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the buyer's premium at Bubb Kuyper?

EU clients pay 27.3% of the hammer price, including all taxes. Clients outside the EU, and EU clients with a VAT number, pay 22.5%, and bids won through Invaluable carry an extra 5%.

How often does Bubb Kuyper hold auctions?

It holds two sales a year, in spring and autumn, each preceded by public viewing days at its premises in Haarlem.

Can I bid online at Bubb Kuyper?

Yes. Live online bidding is available through Invaluable at a 5% surcharge, and written bids through the firm's own online catalogue are free of extra charges.