Isidoor Berkelouw (1913-1987), book-dealer, was born on 17 April 1913 at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, youngest of four children of Hartog Carel Berkelouw, bookseller, and his wife Henriette, née Engelsman. Isidoor was apprenticed to his father’s book-dealing business when aged 19 years old. The family enterprise had been established in 1812 by his great-grandfather Solomon Berkelouw. Hartog opened a shop at Schoolstraat, for which Isidoor travelled through the Netherlands as a representative and buyer.
On 7 July 1936 he married Francina Johanna Koet in Leiden. He worked in London in 1938-39, before returning to the Netherlands. In May 1940 their Rotterdam store was destroyed by bombs. The business was re-established in that city for a short time and then in The Hague, only to be confiscated in 1942 by the occupying power. Isidoor’s parents, sister and one brother perished in the Holocaust but he escaped from prison.
In March 1948 Berkelouw arrived in Sydney with Francina and their three children, later being naturalised in 1955. Initially he was engaged in the clothing industry as a director of Leo’s Store Pty Ltd, later called Leo’s of London.
In September 1950 from his home in Roseville, Berkelouw issued his first Australian book list of thirty-one items. The coming years saw him open a bookstore at 38 King Street in the city and hold auctions there, and in 1957 he moved to 114 King Street. After the redevelopment of that site in 1972, he conducted the business from Rushcutters Bay.
Berkelouw established himself as the pre-eminent dealer in rare, antiquarian and second-hand books in Australia. In 1949 he was the only member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association (International) listed as living in Australia.
In November 1960 he scored a coup with his acquisition at auction of papers and manuscripts of Miles Franklin: `Going . . . Going . . . Gone—To Mr. B. Again! ’, headlined the Daily Telegraph. That collection was the subject of catalogue 47 issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the firm; one of Australia’s leading bookmen, Walter Stone, contributed historical and bibliographical notes.
Bringing with him a profound knowledge of the book trade rooted in the European tradition, Berkelouw recognised on his arrival in Australia that there was a market for technical publications. Libraries, universities and other institutions acquired many components of their collection from him. He was an astute businessman with high standards.
In 1976 Berkelouw retired to Honolulu and then to Los Angeles, yet he still worked and travelled with Francina throughout America and Europe seeking material for the Australian market. Francina died in 1981 and Isidoor’s son, Henry, joined his father in Los Angeles. From 1977 his other son, Leo, operated the business at Bendooley, a historic house near Berrima. It is still in operation today.
Isidoor’s only daughter, Francis Haymes, independently established a bookshop in Woollahra, which was owned and managed by her son Sam after her death in 1986. Isidoor Berkelouw died on 24 November 1987 at his home in Santa Monica.
A,B = What year was Isidoor born? A = Third number. B = Fourth number.
C = Where was the first shop established? Number of letters. Divide by 3
D = Month he issued his first Australian book list? Numeric.
E,F = What year did Isidoor die? E = Third number minus 2. F = First number minus 1.
SBC BC.AED E150 2E.CFC
