Forening for Boghaandværk

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Danish association founded in 1888 to promote the craft, design and quality of bookmaking.

Last updated September 28, 2026

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Overview

Forening for Boghaandværk (the Danish Book Craft Society) is a Danish association founded in 1888 on the initiative of the xylographer Frederik Hendriksen. Its stated purpose is to spread knowledge of and interest in the making of books and to raise quality with regard to form, function, execution and aesthetics. Membership is open to anyone interested in the art of the book, and the association is organised into local branches together with a main board. At its peak in the 1970s it had several thousand members; in 1955 it counted around 3,000 members. The association is best known for its annual awards and exhibitions. Since 1934 its committee for Årets Bogarbejde (Bookwork of the Year) has each year selected the best bookwork of the previous year in order to draw attention to the Danish-produced book, its design and its technical qualities. Practitioners of the trade are honoured with diplomas, a medal and an honorary prize for particularly well-executed book technique. The selected books are exhibited each summer at Den Sorte Diamant (the Black Diamond) at the Royal Library in Copenhagen, and the exhibition then travels around Denmark and to the annual international book fair in Frankfurt. The association also awards Den Danske Bogdesignpris (the Danish Book Design Prize) for a non-fiction book, a work of fiction, a children's book, a book cover and a hand-bound book, and its Diplom, instituted on 11 December 1980, recognises good bookwork. Publishing has been central since the beginning. The association issued an Aarsskrift (yearbook) from 1890 to 1892, and from 1893 the journal Bogvennen, which remains its mouthpiece. Since 1889 it has also published books, beginning with Christian Bruun's treatise De nyeste Undersøgelser om Bogtrykkerkunstens Oprindelse. From the early twentieth century this developed into real publishing activity with literary and essayistic titles produced to a high standard of craftsmanship. Today the association publishes the annual BOG-HÅND-VÆRK – tidskrift for bogvenner, issued in connection with the Bogforum book fair, and the Bogvennen yearbook, both available through its webshop. Recent editions include Bogvennen 2020. Drømmebogen, on Danish micro-publishers, and Bogvennen 2010. Bog & Passion. It also sells catalogues for Årets Bedste Bogarbejde, such as the A.A.B.B 2025 katalog, published in Danish and English. The association continues to run its annual competitions and exhibitions. In 2026 the selected industrial books of Årets Bedste Bogarbejde are shown at O–Overgaden from 14 to 16 August, while the selected hand-bound books of Årets Smukkeste Bogbind are exhibited at Biblioteket Rentemestervej from 14 August to 13 September, with the official diploma ceremony held at O–Overgaden on 14 August. Membership categories include standard, student/under 30, pensioner and company memberships.

History

Forening for Boghaandværk was founded in 1888 on the initiative of the xylographer Frederik Hendriksen. Four years earlier, Hendriksen had submitted an article to the newspaper Politiken, which appeared on the front page on 26 December. The article criticised both the aesthetic expression of recently published books and their technical quality. From Hendriksen's article one can infer the association's purpose: to spread knowledge about the making of books and to promote quality with regard to form, function and execution. Anyone interested in the art of the book could become a member. The association's publishing activity began early. It issued an Aarsskrift (yearbook) from 1890 to 1892 with articles on printers, book craft and the events of the year. From 1893 this was replaced by the journal Bogvennen, which still serves as the association's mouthpiece. Since 1889 the association has also published books, starting with Christian Bruun's treatise De nyeste Undersøgelser om Bogtrykkerkunstens Oprindelse. From the beginning of the twentieth century this became actual publishing activity with literary and essayistic publications produced to a high standard of craftsmanship. A defining feature of the association is its annual recognition of bookwork. Since 1934, the committee for Årets Bogarbejde (Bookwork of the Year) has each year selected the best bookwork of the previous year to draw attention to the Danish-produced book, its design and technical qualities. At the same time, practitioners of the trade are honoured with a series of diplomas, a medal and an honorary prize for particularly well-executed book technique. The selected books are exhibited each summer at Den Sorte Diamant at the Royal Library in Copenhagen, and the exhibition is then shown around Denmark and at the annual international book fair in Frankfurt. The association also awards Den Danske Bogdesignpris to a non-fiction book, a work of fiction, a children's book, a book cover and a hand-bound book. Its Diplom was instituted on 11 December 1980 to recognise good bookwork. The association is divided into a number of local branches and a main board. In 1955 it had around 3,000 members, and membership peaked in the 1970s. It continues to publish the annual BOG-HÅND-VÆRK – tidskrift for bogvenner, issued in connection with the Bogforum book fair, and the Bogvennen yearbook. Recent editions include Bogvennen 2020. Drømmebogen, which focuses on the smallest actors in the Danish book industry, the so-called micro-publishers, and Bogvennen 2010. Bog & Passion. It also sells catalogues for Årets Bedste Bogarbejde, such as the A.A.B.B 2025 katalog, published in Danish and English. In 2026 the association continues its exhibition programme: the selected industrial books of Årets Bedste Bogarbejde are shown at O–Overgaden from 14 to 16 August, while the selected hand-bound books of Årets Smukkeste Bogbind are exhibited at Biblioteket Rentemestervej from 14 August to 13 September, with the official diploma ceremony for both held at O–Overgaden on 14 August.

2026
Årets Bedste Bogarbejde 2026 and Årets Smukkeste Bogbind 2026 exhibitions open on 14 August, with the diploma ceremony at O–Overgaden.
2025
The A.A.B.B 2025 katalog for Årets Bedste Bogarbejde is published in Danish and English.
2020
Bogvennen 2020. Drømmebogen, focusing on Danish micro-publishers, is published (2021).
2010
Bogvennen 2010. Bog & Passion is published (2016).
1980
The association's Diplom is instituted on 11 December to recognise good bookwork.
1970
Membership peaks in the 1970s.
1955
The association has around 3,000 members.
1934
The committee for Årets Bogarbejde begins annually selecting the previous year's best bookwork.
1893
The journal Bogvennen replaces the Aarsskrift and becomes the association's mouthpiece.
1890
The association issues an Aarsskrift (yearbook) with articles on printers, book craft and the year's events.
1889
The association begins publishing books, starting with Christian Bruun's treatise on the origin of printing.
1888
Forening for Boghaandværk is founded on the initiative of Frederik Hendriksen.
1884
Frederik Hendriksen's critical article on book quality is published on the front page of Politiken on 26 December.

Products and positioning

Non-profit association and award body promoting excellence in Danish book craft, design and technical quality.

Bogvennen yearbook
Annual publication of the association, serving as its mouthpiece since 1893.
BOG-HÅND-VÆRK – tidskrift for bogvenner
Annual journal issued in connection with the Bogforum book fair.
A.A.B.B catalogues
Catalogues for Årets Bedste Bogarbejde, published in Danish and English.
Bogvennen 2020. Drømmebogen
Focuses on Danish micro-publishers; 174 pages, published 2021.
Bogvennen 2010. Bog & Passion
On passion for books; 224 pages, published 2016.

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